Following in the footsteps of Samsung, JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs, and other major corporations, Apple has now decided to ban the use of AI-powered chatbots like ChatGPT, Bard, and Bing among its workforce. The move is part of Apple’s effort to prevent accidental exposure of confidential data and also coincides with its plans to build a similar technology in-house.

Strengthening Data Privacy: Apple Bans AI Chatbots

According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, Apple has also warned its employees against using Microsoft’s Copilot, a software that aids in the writing of software code. The ban comes amidst concerns over how these AI chatbots, like ChatGPT, handle user data. These platforms have a combined user base of hundreds of millions, and the way they use user data to train their AI has become a significant point of concern.

Earlier this year, a bug was discovered in ChatGPT, allowing some users to view chat history titles from other users. This prompted OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT, to temporarily pull the service offline. Following these privacy issues, OpenAI introduced an option for users to disable chat history, which would prevent the AI model from training on their data. Despite this move, companies like Apple are not convinced and have chosen to restrict the use of these chatbots.

Samsung has also taken a similar stance, banning its employees from using AI chatbots like ChatGPT after the source code was reportedly shared with the tool. The company is reportedly developing its AI tools and has instructed employees not to share any company or personal information with third-party chatbots.

Apple’s response appears to be developing an alternative to ChatGPT. Under the leadership of former Google employee John Giannandrea, now a senior vice president at Apple, the company is reportedly developing its large language models. This development was hinted at during Apple’s recent earnings call, where CEO Tim Cook voiced his concern about advancements in generative AI, emphasizing the need for a careful and thoughtful approach. ChatGPT app is also now available for iOS users in the US, enabling users to experience conversational AI at their fingertips.