Generative AI tools pose one huge problem to companies adopting them, according to the majority of technology professionals polled in a recent report: They can cause data leaks.
Ironically, one way generative AI can create data privacy problems is by making it way easier to access data without technical knowledge — a phenomenon that can be called “collapsing the expertise barrier.”
Pros are concerned about the potential for other ethical violations as well, from biased datasets to business workflows that will be disrupted by AI. Moving forward, AI may impact even the quality of data itself.
72% of Professionals Are Worried About Data Privacy
Nearly three out of every four (72%) professionals who responded to the survey put data privacy among their top three concerns surrounding the rapid rollout of generative AI tools across the technology landscape of modern business.
Plus, 40% of respondents cited data privacy as their number one concern — an amount three times higher than the next biggest concern (second place is data provenance, which 12% ranked number one).
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The report, which curated responses from 1,848 business and technology professionals, is out from Deloitte this week.
How Does AI Pose a Threat to Data Privacy?
The actual ways in which AI can usher in a cybersecurity or data privacy risk will vary widely.
One big problem is that AI can encourage employees to overstep or cut corners in many areas of the business: How data is used, whether customer privacy is put first, what measures are taken to keep systems secure, and if all company tools are used appropriately.
These potential issues call to mind one eye-opening headline from last year, in which a lawyer submitted briefs using fake, ChatGPT-created citations. Perhaps more likely, however, is the rise of more news items similar to Samsung’s AI ban, reportedly issued after an employee copied sensitive company code into the bot.
Data Privacy Is More Important Than Ever
According to the new report, the technology professionals wary of data privacy issues may be due in part to their depth of knowledge about all the many ways a customer’s data can be misused.
“This may indicate personal unease about the protection of one’s data as well as awareness of the potential harms—to both individuals and organizations—from violations of customer and employee privacy and misuse of data.” – the report
Protective regulations like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the UK, or the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) in the US, can cost companies millions if they don’t pay attention to their data usage.
As AI becomes more common in the workplace, proper education on data safety practices will likely surge right alongside the use of the new technology.
