The advanced abilities of generative AI are making their way into workplaces, with AI chatbots aiding employees in focusing on important tasks instead of mundane ones. However, integrating ChatGPT into work processes means entrusting confidential information to it. Because the AI chatbot is capable of storing entered data, this has caused concern at Samsung HQ.
Using generative AI tools to share confidential information about the company is not permitted and may lead to termination of employment.
Samsung Electronics Co. has prohibited its employees from using the AI chatbot and other generative AI tools due to the discovery of sensitive code being uploaded to ChatGPT by staff. Bloomberg News reported that the company informed the staff at one of its biggest divisions about the new policy via a memo on Monday.
According to the document, Samsung is worried that data sent to AI platforms such as Google Bard and Bing is stored on servers outside of their control. This poses a challenge in terms of retrieving and deleting the data, which could eventually lead it to be exposed to other users.
Samsung told its staff –
“Interest in generative AI platforms such as ChatGPT has been growing internally and externally. While this interest focuses on the usefulness and efficiency of these platforms, there are also growing concerns about security risks presented by generative AI.”
Using generative AI tools to disclose any confidential or personal information related to the company is prohibited. This ban applies to company-owned devices such as computers, tablets, and phones, as well as its internal networks. Violation of this ban can result in termination of employment.
The memo further stated –
“We ask that you diligently adhere to our security guidelines and failure to do so may result in a breach or compromise of company information resulting in disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment,”
Last month, Samsung engineers uploaded internal source code to ChatGPT. The memo mentioned this as an accidental leak but did not provide information on what the code was related to.
Samsung is developing in-house AI tools for document summarization, translation, and software development. The company is also exploring methods to prevent the transfer of sensitive information to outside platforms.
Overall, Samsung is taking extra measures to ensure that users can trust their data with generative AI platforms. By banning the use of ChatGPT and other AI programs, the company is hoping to protect its confidential information from being leaked or exposed by accident.
