An internal Apple document suggests that, despite developing their own AI technology, the company will curtail its employees’ use of third-party AI chatbots.
Fear of leaking sensitive information
Apple, the tech giant, has restricted access to its popular AI chatbot, ChatGPT, out of concern for potential risks around sensitive data.
A report from The Wall Street Journal revealed that an internal document had banned the use of ChatGPT and similar AI tools. That while the company was developing its own AI technology.
The document indicates that Apple is concerned that employees could use these tools to reveal classified company information.
The document also limits the use of GitHub’s AI tool Copilot, a Microsoft-developed tool that automates the coding process.
This internal restriction was introduced following the launch of the ChatGPT app on the Apple App Store for iOS on May 18.
At the moment, the new app is accessible to iPhone and iPad users in the US. However, there are plans to expand availability to other countries in the coming weeks. An Android version of the app is also in the works.
Apple follows other big companies
In addition to Apple, other major companies have restricted the internal use of ChatGPT. On May 2, Samsung sent a memo to employees prohibiting the use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT.
In Samsung’s case, the policy followed an incident where Samsung employees uploaded a “sensitive code” to the platform.
Samsung warned employees not to upload company information. If they did, they would face “disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment”.
In addition to Samsung and Apple, companies such as JPMorgan, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and Citigroup have also banned the internal use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT.
Many companies that ban the use of AI chatbots by employees are also creating their own applications. In early May, Apple CEO Time Cook said the company plans to “weave” AI into its products.