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The Privacy Risks of AI Chatbots
Generative AI chatbots are amazing, but we cannot pretend they’re flawless. As our use of AI increases, it’s extremely important to understand that some information is better kept private and never shared with an AI chatbot.
The Privacy Risks of AI Chatbots
AI chatbots like ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini are popular because they can generate human-like responses. However, their reliance on large language models (LLMs) comes with privacy and security risks. These vulnerabilities highlight how personal information shared during interactions could be exposed or misused.
- Data Collection Practices: AI chatbots use vast training data, which may include user interactions. Companies like OpenAI allow users to opt out of data collection, but ensuring full privacy can be challenging.
- Server Vulnerabilities: Stored user data is susceptible to hacking attempts, with cybercriminals potentially stealing and misusing this information for malicious purposes.
- Third-Party Access: Data from chatbot interactions can be shared with third-party service providers or accessed by authorized personnel, increasing the risk of breaches.
- No Advertising Use (Claimed): While companies claim not to sell data for marketing, it is shared for system maintenance and operational purposes.
- Generative AI Concerns: Critics argue that the growing adoption of generative AI could exacerbate these security and privacy risks.
If you want to protect your data while using ChatGPT and other AI chatbots, it’s worth understaning the privacy risks involved. While companies like OpenAI provide some transparency and control, the complexities of data sharing and security vulnerabilities require vigilance.
To ensure your privacy and security, there are five key types of data you must never share with a generative AI chatbot.
1. Financial Details
With the widespread use of AI chatbots, many users have turned to these language models for financial advice and managing personal finances. While they can enhance financial literacy, knowing the potential dangers of sharing financial details with AI chatbots is crucial.
When using chatbots as financial advisors, you risk exposing your financial information to potential cybercriminals who could exploit it to drain your accounts. Despite companies claiming to anonymize conversation data, third parties and some employees may still access it. For example, a chatbot might analyze your spending habits to offer advice, but if this data is accessed by unauthorized entities, it could be used to profile you for scams, such as phishing emails mimicking your bank.
To protect your financial information, limit your interactions with AI chatbots to general information and broad questions. Sharing specific account details, transaction histories, or passwords can leave you vulnerable. A licensed financial advisor is a safer and more reliable option if you require personalized financial advice.
2. Personal and Intimate Thoughts
Many users are turning to AI chatbots to seek therapy, unaware of the potential consequences for their mental well-being. Understanding the dangers of disclosing personal and intimate information to these chatbots is essential.
AI chatbots lack real-world knowledge and can only offer generic responses to mental health-related queries. This means the medicines or treatments they suggest may not be appropriate for your specific needs and could harm your health.
Furthermore, sharing personal thoughts with AI chatbots raises significant privacy concerns. Your privacy may be compromised as your secrets, and intimate thoughts could be leaked online or used as part of the AI training data. Malicious individuals could exploit this information to spy on you or sell your data on the dark web. Therefore, safeguarding the privacy of personal thoughts when interacting with AI chatbots is important.
AI chatbots are tools for general information and support rather than a substitute for professional therapy. If you require mental health advice or treatment, consult a qualified mental health professional. They can provide personalized and reliable guidance while prioritizing your privacy and well-being.
3. Confidential Workplace Information
Another mistake that users must avoid when interacting with AI chatbots is sharing confidential work-related information. Prominent tech giants such as Apple, Samsung, and Google have restricted their employees from utilizing AI chatbots in the workplace.
A Bloomberg report highlighted a case where Samsung employees used ChatGPT for coding purposes and inadvertently uploaded sensitive code onto the generative AI platform. This incident resulted in the unauthorized disclosure of confidential information about Samsung, prompting the company to enforce a ban on AI chatbot usage. If you use AI to resolve coding issues (or any other workplace problems), you shouldn’t trust AI chatbots with confidential information.
Likewise, many employees rely on AI chatbots to summarize meeting minutes or automate repetitive tasks, posing a risk of unintentionally exposing sensitive data. You can safeguard sensitive information and protect your organization from inadvertent leaks or data breaches by being mindful of the risks associated with sharing work-related data.
4. Passwords
Sharing your passwords online, even with large language models, is an absolute no-go. These models store data on servers, and disclosing your passwords to them jeopardizes your privacy.
A significant data breach involving ChatGPT occurred in May 2022, raising concerns about the security of chatbot platforms. Furthermore, ChatGPT was banned in Italy due to the European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Italian regulators deemed the AI chatbot non-compliant with privacy laws, highlighting the risks of data breaches on the platform. The ban has long since been lifted, but it illustrates that even though companies have enhanced data security measures, vulnerabilities persist.
To safeguard your login credentials, never share them with chatbots, even for troubleshooting purposes. If you need to reset or manage passwords, use dedicated password managers or your organization’s secure IT protocols.
5. Residential Details and Other Personal Data
Just like social media and other online platforms, you shouldn’t share any personally identifying information (PII) with an AI chatbot. PII includes sensitive data such as your location, social security number, date of birth, and health information, which can be used to identify or locate you. For instance, casually mentioning your home address while asking a chatbot for nearby services could inadvertently expose you to risks. If this data is intercepted or leaked, someone could use it for identity theft or to locate you in the real world. Similarly, oversharing on platforms integrated with AI, like Snapchat, could unintentionally reveal more about you than intended.
To maintain the privacy of your data when engaging with AI chatbots, here are some key practices to follow:
- Familiarize yourself with the privacy policies of chatbots to understand the associated risks.
- Avoid asking questions that may inadvertently reveal your identity or personal information.
- Exercise caution and refrain from sharing your medical information with AI bots.
- Be mindful of the potential vulnerabilities of your data when using AI chatbots on social platforms like SnapChat.
AI chatbots are wonderful for so many uses, but they also present serious privacy risks. Protecting your personal data when using ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude, or any other AI chatbot isn’t particularly difficult, either. Just take a moment to consider what would happen if the information you’re sharing were leaked. Then, you’ll know what to talk about and what to keep to yourself.
