Samsung Electronics has recently prohibited its employees from using generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT and Google Bard, due to concerns over data leaks and security risks. The South Korean tech giant implemented this ban after discovering that staff had unintentionally leaked sensitive code and internal source code to ChatGPT.
The company informed its employees about the new policy through a memo, reviewed by Bloomberg, expressing concerns that data submitted to AI platforms could be stored on external servers, making it difficult to retrieve, delete, or prevent disclosure to other users. In response to these security issues, Samsung is working on developing its own internal AI tools for translation, document summarisation, and software development.
The ban on generative AI tools extends to company-owned devices, including computers, tablets, and phones, as well as its internal networks. However, consumer devices such as Android smartphones and Windows laptops will not be affected.
Despite the usefulness and efficiency of AI platforms like ChatGPT, security concerns have also been raised by other organisations. Several Wall Street banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, and Citigroup, have either restricted or completely banned the use of these tools. Italy also temporarily banned ChatGPT due to privacy concerns, although the ban was later lifted.
Samsung employees are urged not to submit any company-related information or personal data that could reveal intellectual property when using AI tools on personal devices. Breaching the new policies may result in termination of employment.
The company’s decision to temporarily restrict generative AI use highlights the growing tension between the advantages of AI technology and the potential security risks it presents. Samsung is taking measures to create a secure environment for safely utilising AI to enhance productivity and efficiency within the workplace. However, until such measures are in place, the use of generative AI tools will remain restricted.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of exercising caution when using AI chatbots and other online tools, as the potential for unintended data sharing and security breaches is ever-present.
