Clarification needed on AI/ML restriction scope — can merchant-consented anonymized data be used for model training?

[KyleG-Shopify]

Hey @Yash_Ranadive, we had the same question asked here and Liam has provided some clarity:

PPA Update (Feb 27, 2026) — Clarification needed on AI/ML restriction scope

Hi folks, Use cases that only perform inference — and do not train or fine‑tune models — are not restricted by the policy. In this instance, it’s unclear whether the third‑party AI API nonetheless uses data for downstream model training or fine‑tuning. Partners should review all third‑party tools and their policies to ensure continued compliance with the policy.