Samsung Imposes Ban on Generative AI Tools to Prevent Data Leaks
Samsung, the South Korean tech giant, is taking a drastic step to prevent unauthorized exposure of sensitive data or any information protected by intellectual property. In a move to safeguard its corporate devices, Samsung has implemented a ban on the use of generative AI tools by its employees. This decision comes after concerns about potential data leaks through platforms like ChatGPT, Bard, or Bing, which rely on chatbots.
The ban was confirmed by Samsung itself, which fears that the increased use of generative AI tools may lead to the unintentional exposure of confidential data stored on third-party servers. To enforce this measure, the company has laid out strict safety guidelines for its employees. Going forward, Samsung workers are prohibited from using generative AI tools on company-owned computers, mobiles, tablets, or accessing them through internal networks. Failure to comply may result in serious consequences, including possible termination.
While Samsung has not placed technical restrictions on its employees’ personal devices to prevent access to generative AI platforms, it has urged them to be cautious and avoid sharing any company-related or confidential information that could lead to data breaches.
It remains unclear whether the ban on generative AI tools applies to all divisions within Samsung or only specific ones. Bloomberg indicates that the notification was initially sent to members of one of its important divisions, without specifying which. However, it would not be surprising if the semiconductor division, which previously made headlines for inadvertently sharing sensitive information with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, was among the first to be affected by the ban.
Samsung has emphasized that this ban on generative AI use will be temporary. The company is actively developing a tool to prevent the upload of sensitive data to third-party services. The ultimate goal is to create a safe environment for the use of artificial intelligence to enhance productivity and efficiency among employees. However, this tool is not currently available.
Samsung’s apprehension regarding data leaks is understandable given the rapidly evolving nature of generative AI tools like ChatGPT. Managing the information stored by these tools and how it is used to train their language models is an ongoing challenge that requires constant vigilance.
In conclusion, Samsung has taken a proactive approach by imposing a ban on the use of generative AI tools to mitigate the risk of unintentional data leaks. While this move may impact employee productivity in the short term, it underscores the company’s commitment to data security. Samsung’s development of a safeguarding tool demonstrates its determination to create a safe environment for the use of AI while preserving the privacy and integrity of sensitive information.
Source: Bloomberg
