By Chief Automation Officer, George K. Mehok
November 20, 2023
In the October issue, AXI’s Automation Review explored leveraging the transformational potential of AI-enabled workflows in redefining business efficiency. This month, we pivot to a critical aspect of this digital evolution: navigating the integration of AI tools with an emphasis on security and data protection.
As AI technologies like ChatGPT, Bard, and Bing revolutionize key business functions ranging from accounting to sales operations, they bring groundbreaking opportunities for process optimization. Yet, it’s crucial that when integrating workflows with AI technologies, you must recognize and accept the risks of sharing your company’s or personal data.
That is not to say we recommend avoiding integrating with AI tools. On the contrary, integrating large language models and machine learning into your business workflows is essential to remain competitive in any industry. However, we recommend you understand the risks and develop compensating controls to protect your data confidentiality.
Do ChatGPT, Bard and BingAI utilize data from interactions with users to train its AI models?
Yes, ChatGPT, like other AI models, uses data from interactions with users for ongoing training and improvement. This involves using the data to help the model learn from real-world interactions, improving its accuracy, relevance, and ability to generate human-like responses. When using data for training, OpenAI claims to anonymize and aggregate the data to protect user privacy. This means personal identifiers are removed to ensure the data cannot be traced back to an individual user.
How is privacy and confidentiality protected when interacting with an AI tool?
Data Protection Measures: Microsoft (BingAI), OpenAI (ChatGPT), and Google (Bard) have implemented industry-standard data encryption, strict access controls, and adherence to industry-standard protocols to ensure the security of your proprietary data.
Access Controls: Detailed access control mechanisms are provided by each vendor, allowing you to set up rigorous authentication protocols and ensuring that only authorized personnel can access the AI tools.
Securing API Connections: To ensure a secure and encrypted API connection to ChatGPT, use HTTPS protocols and authentication methods like OAuth2, as recommended in OpenAI’s documentation.
Data Sharing and Protection: When you upload data to BingAI, Bard, or ChatGPT, these platforms claim that your personal data is not shared with third parties and is protected using advanced security measures. This includes data encryption at rest and using secure transport protocols like TLS to protect data in transit.
Adopting AI tools is a strategic step towards innovation and efficiency. However, it’s imperative to approach integration with an informed perspective on each platform’s data handling and security measures. By staying informed and implementing the recommended security practices, you can leverage these AI capabilities confidently and effectively in your business workflows.
Note: It’s crucial to exercise extreme caution when dealing with data that contains Personal Identifiable Information (PII) or any other highly sensitive information. Despite the security measures and controls that AI vendors may assert, we strongly advise against sharing confidential data. The risks associated with the potential exposure of such sensitive information outweigh the purported benefits of these services.
For more information about Automation Technology products and services, visit www.aperturexi.com or email us at [email protected].
