In a latest development, Samsung Electronics Co. banned employee use of popular generative AI tools like ChatGPT after discovering that its staff uploaded sensitive code to the platform and it had to deal with a setback to the spread of such technology in the workplace.
Samsung Banned Use Of ChatGPT
It seems that the company had conducted a survey last month about the use of AI tools internally.
Its findings reveal that 65% of respondents believe that such services pose a security risk.
On Monday, Suwon, a South Korea-based company notified staff at one of its biggest divisions about the new policy via a memo reviewed by Bloomberg News.
Why Would This Happen?
The company has concerns that data transmitted to such artificial intelligence platforms including Google Bard and Bing is stored on external servers.
Thus, making it difficult to retrieve and delete, and could end up being disclosed to other users, as per the document.
In its communication, Samsung informed its staff that “Interest in generative AI platforms such as ChatGPT has been growing internally and externally,”.
Adding, “While this interest focuses on the usefulness and efficiency of these platforms, there are also growing concerns about security risks presented by generative AI.”
It’s Not The First Time
When it comes to concerns, Samsung is just the latest big company to express concern about the technology.
Only a couple of months after OpenAI’s chatbot service stirred up a storm of interest in the technology, some Wall Street banks including JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp. and Citigroup Inc. either banned or restricted its use during February.
In the same fashion, Italy has also barred the use of ChatGPT over privacy fears, though it reversed its stance in recent days.
Breaking The Rules Will Result In Termination Of Employment
According to the latest, the use of generative AI systems on company-owned computers, tablets and phones is banned, as well as on its internal networks.
Notably, it does not affect the company’s devices which are being sold to consumers, such as Android smartphones and Windows laptops.
Besides this, Samsung has urged the employees who use ChatGPT and other tools on personal devices to not submit any company-related information or personal data that could reveal its intellectual property.
Further warning that breaking the new policies could result in being fired.
In the memo, Samsung said,“We ask that you diligently adhere to our security guideline 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,”.
Meanwhile, the company is working on its own internal AI tools for translation and summarizing documents as well as for software development.
The company is also working on ways to block the upload of sensitive company information to external services.
Earlier, ChatGPT added an “incognito” mode allowing users to block their chats from being used toward AI model training last month.
Further the company memo said, “HQ is reviewing security measures to create a secure environment for safely using generative AI to enhance employees’ productivity and efficiency,”.
Adding, “However, until these measures are prepared, we are temporarily restricting the use of generative AI.”
