Samsung bans employees from using ChatGPT-like technology following data leak

Any disclosure of confidential information related to the company on generative AI tools has been prohibited and could even lead to termination of employment.

The logo of Samsung Electronics is seen outside the Samsung Electronics Seocho building in Seoul, South Korea, on Oct. 25, 2020. (AP Photo/File)

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Thanks to its impressive capabilities, generative AI is seeping into the workplace. The AI chatbot is helping people focus on their core work rather than spending time on trivial tasks. However, the use of ChatGPT in workflows often involves feeding sensitive information to it. And since the AI chatbot may store data typed into it, it has raised alarms at Samsung HQ.

After discovering that staff uploaded sensitive code to ChatGPT, Samsung Electronics Co. is barring employees from using the AI chatbot and other generative AI tools. The South Korea-based company notified staff at one of its biggest divisions on Monday about the new policy via a memo, according to Bloomberg News.

The document highlights that Samsung is concerned that data transmitted to AI platforms like these, including Google Bard and Bing, is stored on external servers. This makes the data difficult to retrieve and delete, meaning it could end up being disclosed to other users.

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“Interest in generative AI platforms such as ChatGPT has been growing internally and externally,” Samsung told staff. “While this interest focuses on the usefulness and efficiency of these platforms, there are also growing concerns about security risks presented by generative AI.”

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The generative AI ban covers company-owned computers, tablets, and phones, as well as its internal networks. Any disclosure of confidential or personal information related to the company on generative AI tools has been prohibited and could even lead to termination of employment.

“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,” the memo read.

The memo also noted that Samsung engineers accidentally leaked internal source code by uploading it to ChatGPT last month, although it didn’t specify what that code pertained to.

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Meanwhile, Samsung is also developing its own internal AI tools for translation, summarising documents, and software development. It’s also working on ways to block the uploading of sensitive information to external services.

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