Workers in the United States are increasingly turning to ChatGPT, a chatbot program powered by generative AI, to assist with basic tasks, according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll. The popularity of ChatGPT persists despite concerns from employers like Microsoft and Google, who have restricted its use due to fears of intellectual property and strategy leaks.
ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, allows users to engage in conversation and receive answers to various prompts. Examples of workers utilizing the technology include drafting emails, summarizing documents, and conducting preliminary research.
The online poll, conducted between July 11 and 17, surveyed 2,625 adults across the U.S. Approximately 28% of respondents reported regularly using ChatGPT at work, while just 22% stated their employers explicitly permitted the use of external tools like ChatGPT. Interestingly, 10% indicated that their bosses had explicitly banned external AI tools, and approximately 25% were unsure of their company’s policies regarding such technology.
Since its launch in November, ChatGPT has become the fastest-growing app in history, generating both excitement and concern. OpenAI has faced regulatory challenges, particularly in Europe, where privacy watchdogs have criticized the company for its mass data-collecting practices.
One major concern surrounding generative AI services like ChatGPT is the potential exposure of proprietary information. Human reviewers from other companies can access the generated chats, and researchers have discovered that similar AI systems can reproduce absorbed data, raising the risk of data leaks.
Ben King, VP of customer trust at corporate security firm Okta, emphasized that many users are unaware of how their data is used when utilizing generative AI services. This lack of understanding poses a significant risk for businesses, as users often do not have contracts with AI services since they are typically free. As a result, corporate risk assessment processes do not cover these services adequately.
While OpenAI declined to comment on individual employees using ChatGPT, the company assured corporate partners through a recent blog post that their data would not be used to further train the chatbot unless explicit permission was given.
Concerns surrounding the use of similar chatbot programs extend beyond ChatGPT. Google’s Bard, for instance, collects data such as text and location information, although users have the option to delete past activity and request removal of content fed into the AI. Alphabet-owned Google declined to comment on specific details.
Microsoft did not provide an immediate response when asked for comment.
Some employees at companies like Tinder have revealed that they use ChatGPT for harmless tasks such as writing emails, despite the platform being officially disallowed. However, Tinder stated that it regularly advises employees on security and data practices.
Samsung Electronics globally banned its staff from using ChatGPT and similar AI tools after discovering that an employee had uploaded sensitive code to the platform. Samsung is currently working on secure measures for the usage of generative AI but has temporarily restricted access until those measures are in place.
While some companies are embracing ChatGPT and similar platforms with a focus on security, others have implemented blanket bans. Coca-Cola, for example, is testing AI to enhance operational effectiveness, with its enterprise version of ChatGPT assisting in productivity. Tate & Lyle, a global ingredients maker, also views ChatGPT as a useful tool and is conducting trials to determine how it can be safely implemented.
Concerns surrounding security and information disclosure remain valid, according to Paul Lewis, chief information security officer at cyber security firm Nominet. Malicious prompts can be employed to extract sensitive information from AI chatbots, necessitating cautious use of the technology.
Ultimately, while workers continue to turn to ChatGPT for basic task assistance, employers and organizations must carefully consider the potential risks and benefits associated with these AI tools. Proper data governance and security measures are crucial to mitigate any concerns and ensure the safe and efficient use of generative AI technologies.
