News from OpenAI that a bug allowed some users to see titles from another user’s chat history raises the question of whether this constitutes a data breach and if you can trust ChatGPT to keep your data private.
This incident highlights the risk of a potential data breach, where unauthorised access could lead to privacy compromises, identity theft, and the misuse of personal information.
The answer is no, and ChatGPT has helpfully explained why this is the case. As in my previous posts about why it is important to verify your GPT results, I asked my AI colleague Richard Davies to verify the answer generated.
Content:
How ChatGPT uses AI training to improve its responses
Why does ChatGPT security matter to protect user data?
ChatGPT explains why it is best to avoid sharing sensitive data
A trust relationship may not exist with ChatGPT
ChatGPT’s data handling practices
Does ChatGPT save user data, and if so, why
MUSK and Scientists call for halt to AI race
How to use GPT4 AI securely with strict access controls
ChatGPT’s AI training is a continuous process that involves learning from user interactions and adapting to new patterns and trends. The more users interact with ChatGPT, the more data it collects, and the more accurate its responses become.
This training process is important in improving ChatGPT’s ability to understand nuances of language, idioms, and context-specific expressions.
To understand why the ChatGPT bug and data security matters, it is helpful to consider the wider consequences of the bug.
This exposure could potentially allow unauthorised individuals to access sensitive user data, highlighting the importance of strict access controls and other security measures.
To prevent such incidents, OpenAI has implemented robust security measures including encryption, strict access controls, external security audits, and incident response plans.
Now, if you have been one of the millions of unfortunate victims of identity theft, you will know how worrying it is to have your payment details compromised. OpenAI have patched the bug and there is no mention at this time of any theft of sensitive data or fraud resulting from the bug.
Get more insights on ChatGPT security best practices: A comprehensive guide.
ChatGPT had told me that it was always best to avoid sharing sensitive or confidential information, such as personal identification numbers, bank account numbers, or passwords, over ChatGPT. I asked the bot why this was, and it generated the following answer:
It is always best to avoid sharing sensitive or confidential information, such as personal identification numbers, bank account numbers, or passwords, over chat with any digital platform, including chat with an AI, for several reasons:
In general, it is always best to avoid sharing sensitive or confidential information over chat with any digital platform, including chat with an AI.
If you must share sensitive information, it is better to use a more secure method, such as a phone call or in-person meeting, and to make sure you are communicating with a trusted and verified recipient.
ChatGPT helpfully points out that a trust relationship may not exist, which makes sense because you are communicating with an AI language model that is designed to respond in a conversational manner.
My colleague Richard points out, “ChatGPT may sound human-like but it does not have the capacity for personal relationships, trust, or emotions” adding, “I have predicted that it is only a matter of time before someone falls in love with a ChatBot, because they feel it understands them better than a human”
As a user, it’s essential to understand how ChatGPT handles your data.
Let’s dive into the details.
Yes, ChatGPT does save user data but only for specific reasons. When you chat with ChatGPT, your conversations are saved on OpenAI’s servers to improve the AI model. This data is used to train the model, find patterns and generate more accurate responses. But ChatGPT does not sell or share user data with third parties without explicit consent.
ChatGPT’s data handling is designed to protect user data and keep it confidential. We use end-to-end encryption to encrypt conversations and have strict access controls to prevent unauthorized access to user data. ChatGPT also complies with regional data protection regulations like GDPR in the EU and CCPA in the US.
ChatGPT is a powerful AI chatbot that uses AI training to improve its responses and provides a secure and confidential space for user interactions. It does save user data but you need to understand the purpose and limitations of data collection. By knowing ChatGPT’s data handling you can use the platform with confidence and take steps to protect your sensitive info.
Romantic liaisons with a ChatBot may be a little way off, but concerns that the race to roll-out AI is out of control, has caused Elon Musk and others to call for a 6 month pause. In a letter to the tech giants, the scientists warn that AI systems with “human-competitive intelligence can pose profound risks to society and humanity”.
A big concern is the risk of flooding the internet with disinformation that could result in catastrophic future risks out of the realms of science fiction.
As ChatGPT explains, ‘If you must share sensitive information or chat over a digital platform, it is better to use a more secure method and make sure you communicate with a human who is trusted and verified’.
Generative AI like GPT4 is a revolutionary technology that is already giving companies a competitive edge because it can improve processes. This can be done safely when AI is trained on data sets that are trusted and controls are in place to protect your data. It is crucial to utilize data controls to manage and control your data usage within the ChatGPT platform.
Protecting user data is paramount, and it involves ensuring that the collection, storage, and handling of user data are secure. This includes encryption, security measures, and compliance with data protection regulations to safeguard user privacy.
According to Time magazine, OpenAI has employed Kenyan workers on less than $2 per hour to ensure ChatGPT does not create toxic answers. OpenAI explains that human moderators can see responses generated by ChatGPT during their review process.
The moderators were tasked with reviewing and labelling vast amounts of text data to identify and classify harmful content, such as hate speech, violence, and sexual abuse.
It is now possible to deploy new GPT technology safely and verify results using a certified human expert. An example of this is the new GAI AI-Translation product developed in partnership with Sheffield Hallam University.
Global companies that use human and AI generated content want the assurance of a trusted linguist to guarantee tone of voice is perfect. Certified linguists who have been tested and verified are selected to perform this task.
Due to new advances like the Expert-in-the-Loop feature in GAI, it is now possible for companies to seamlessly commission their professional linguists online.
Big tech companies may well heed the call from Elon Musk to pause the race to roll-out AI but behind the scenes, the race is well underway. One of the key ethical considerations in this race is whether to share user data, as it raises significant privacy concerns and the need for strict confidentiality measures.