• Apple has joined Samsung in banning the use of ChatGPT and similar AI tools by its employees in work-related tasks
• The ban also includes GitHub’s Copilot, a Microsoft-owned app for automated code writing.
• Employees from different companies in different sectors have been using the Chatbot to make their work easier

Apple, the renowned Big Tech giant, has imposed restrictions on using the widely popular AI chatbot, ChatGPT amid concerns of potential data breaches and compromised sensitive information.

As The Wall Street Journal reported, an internal document circulated among Apple employees explicitly prohibiting using Microsoft-backed ChatGPT. Furthermore, similar AI tools are prohibited during the company’s development of its own AI technology. The document outlines Apple’s apprehensions about employees utilizing these programs. They insisted this could potentially expose confidential company data.

Apple is not alone in implementing such restrictions. Other major companies have also prohibited the internal use of ChatGPT and similar generative AI tools. Samsung, for instance, issued a memo on May 2 forbidding employees from utilizing these tools. This came after an incident involving the upload of sensitive code to the platform. Employees were explicitly instructed not to upload any company-related information on personal devices. They insisted it could lead to disciplinary action, including termination of employment.

Moreover, financial institutions like JPMorgan, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, and Citigroup have also joined the ranks of companies banning the internal use of generative AI tools like ChatGPT. Interestingly, many of these companies are simultaneously working on developing their own AI applications. In early May, Apple CEO Tim Cook expressed the company’s intention to integrate AI into their products, indicating a strategic move towards creating proprietary AI solutions.

READ: How to use ChatGPT to learn a language

The rise in concerns over data security and confidentiality has prompted these companies to exercise caution and take measures to mitigate potential risks associated with the use of AI chatbots. As they prioritize safeguarding sensitive information, they are also investing in the development of in-house AI solutions to enhance their capabilities and maintain control over their proprietary data.

In conclusion, Apple’s restriction on the usage of ChatGPT within the company reflects a larger trend among major corporations to protect confidential information. While these bans are in effect, companies are simultaneously exploring their own AI initiatives, aligning their strategies with the integration of AI technologies into their products and services.