Is ChatGPT Stealing Our Data? How to Stay Private When Using AI

John Ferrell, Esq.
25 May 202309:47

TLDRJohn Farrell discusses the privacy concerns surrounding the use of chat GPT by businesses and individuals. He highlights the impressive capabilities of chat GPT, such as its language proficiency and productivity benefits, while cautioning about the potential risks of sensitive data exposure. OpenAI's privacy policy is critiqued for its lack of clarity on data access and usage. Farrell offers practical advice on using chat GPT safely, including using incognito mode, avoiding sensitive topics, and employing throwaway email addresses to maintain anonymity. He emphasizes the need for careful consideration before entrusting AI tools with confidential information.

Takeaways

  • 🔒 Chat GPT's privacy concerns are significant for businesses, especially law firms, banks, and tech companies.
  • 🤖 Chat GPT is a powerful natural language processing tool that uses machine learning to generate text responses.
  • 📚 It is trained on a vast amount of language data, including articles, books, and web pages, to identify text patterns.
  • 🚨 Security risks include the potential for AI tools to generate malicious software or engage in social engineering attacks.
  • 📝 OpenAI's privacy policy is vague about who has access to the data collected by Chat GPT.
  • 🔐 Personal information entered in prompts can be remembered and potentially tied to account information.
  • 📧 Using third-party applications with Chat GPT's API raises concerns about the proliferation of sensitive data.
  • 📝 John Farrell suggests using incognito mode and turning off chat history and training in Chat GPT's settings for privacy.
  • 💌 Use a throwaway email address and incognito mode when interacting with Chat GPT to protect your identity.
  • 📖 Keep questions general and avoid sharing large amounts of personal or sensitive information with Chat GPT.
  • 🔍 Until clearer privacy protections are established, users should be cautious about how they use Chat GPT and similar AI tools.

Q & A

  • What are the main concerns businesses have about using chat GPT?

    -Businesses, especially law firms, banks, and tech companies, are concerned about the privacy and security of chat GPT. They worry about the potential for AI to generate malicious software, conduct social engineering attacks, and the collection and misuse of sensitive data.

  • How does chat GPT generate responses?

    -Chat GPT is a natural language processing tool that uses machine learning to generate text responses from text prompts. It is based on a neural network that trains on a large amount of language input data, such as articles, books, and web pages, to recognize patterns in text and generate responses.

  • What information does Open AI collect from chat GPT users?

    -Open AI collects account information for paid users, which includes names, business names, addresses, and credit card numbers. It also collects device information, such as the type of device, browser, and IP address, and records and stores text prompts and responses from users.

  • Who has access to the data collected by chat GPT?

    -Open AI's privacy policy is vague on who exactly has access to the collected data. However, it states that data is shared with vendors, service providers, affiliates, legal entities, and AI trainers who review conversations.

  • What are the implications of using chat GPT for sensitive tasks like drafting SEC filings?

    -Using chat GPT for sensitive tasks can risk the disclosure of client confidential information. Any personal information included in prompts can be remembered and potentially tied to the user's account, which could lead to serious privacy breaches.

  • How can users improve their privacy when using chat GPT?

    -Users can consider using incognito mode, avoiding sharing sensitive information, and being cautious about the content they input. They can also use throwaway email addresses and interact with chat GPT through private browsing modes to minimize the risk of their identity being tied to their prompts.

  • What is the advice given by John Farrell regarding the use of chat GPT for professional tasks?

    -John Farrell advises not to put anything in writing that one would be embarrassed to have read in open court. This means users should be cautious about the nature of their prompts and avoid sharing sensitive or confidential information with chat GPT.

  • What is the role of Microsoft in relation to chat GPT and Open AI?

    -Microsoft is a significant owner in both chat GPT and Open AI, which suggests that Microsoft likely has access to the data collected by chat GPT.

  • How can chat GPT be used safely for productivity and efficiency?

    -To use chat GPT safely, users should keep their questions general, avoid sharing large blocks of text or sensitive information, and use privacy-enhancing features like incognito mode and throwaway email addresses.

  • What are the potential risks of using third-party applications connected to chat GPT through its API?

    -The risk lies in the potential for these applications to access and misuse the data shared with chat GPT, leading to privacy breaches and the exposure of sensitive information.

  • Why is it important to be cautious about the questions asked to chat GPT?

    -Being cautious is important because chat GPT records and stores all interactions, and any personal information entered could be used to identify the user, potentially leading to privacy issues.

Outlines

00:00

🤖 Concerns about Chat GPT's Privacy and Security

The paragraph discusses the privacy concerns of businesses, especially law firms, banks, and tech companies, regarding the use of Chat GPT. It highlights the reluctance of these entities to trust Chat GPT with sensitive information due to security fears. The speaker, John Farrell, a Silicon Valley intellectual property attorney, introduces the topic of the video, which is to explore the security and privacy of Chat GPT. The paragraph also briefly explains how Chat GPT works as a natural language processing tool using machine learning and neural networks, and it emphasizes that AI models like Chat GPT do not generate creative thought but rather rely on patterns from trained data.

05:01

📜 The Risks of Using Chat GPT for Sensitive Information

This paragraph delves into the potential risks of using Chat GPT for sensitive tasks, such as reviewing SEC filing documents. It warns of the dangers of premature disclosure of confidential information and the implications of using third-party applications that connect to Chat GPT via API. The speaker expresses a desire to use AI tools for various legal tasks but cautions against the risk of client confidential information disclosure. The paragraph concludes with advice on how to use Chat GPT more privately, including using incognito mode, being cautious with the content shared, and considering the use of throwaway email addresses for anonymity.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Chat GPT

Chat GPT is an AI language model developed by OpenAI that generates human-like text based on the prompts it receives. In the video, it is discussed as a powerful productivity tool but also a potential privacy concern due to its data collection practices.

💡Privacy

Privacy refers to the state or condition of being free from being observed or disturbed by others, especially in one's personal or business affairs. In the context of the video, privacy concerns are raised regarding the data collected by Chat GPT and how it might be used or accessed by third parties.

💡Security

Security in this context refers to the protection of data and systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. The video discusses the potential risks of using AI tools like Chat GPT within a network, including the creation of malicious software and social engineering attacks.

💡Intellectual Property Attorney

An intellectual property attorney is a legal professional who specializes in the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, such as patents, copyrights, and trademarks. John Farrell, the speaker in the video, is an example of such an attorney, and he discusses the potential uses and limitations of Chat GPT in his professional field.

💡Machine Learning

Machine learning is a subset of artificial intelligence that involves the development of algorithms that allow computers to learn from and make predictions or decisions based on data. Chat GPT operates on machine learning principles, using a neural network to generate text responses.

💡Neural Network

A neural network is a computing architecture inspired by the human brain, consisting of interconnected nodes or neurons that process information. It is used in AI models like Chat GPT to identify patterns and generate responses.

💡Data Collection

Data collection refers to the gathering and storing of information, often for analysis or to improve services. In the video, OpenAI's data collection practices, including account information, device information, and text prompts, are discussed as a source of privacy concerns.

💡Incognito Mode

Incognito mode is a privacy feature in web browsers that allows users to browse the internet without saving local data, such as browsing history or cookies. In the video, it is suggested as a way to improve privacy when using Chat GPT.

💡Throwaway Email Address

A throwaway email address is a temporary or disposable email address used for a short period, often for one-time use or to maintain anonymity. The video suggests using such an address when interacting with Chat GPT to protect one's identity.

💡Social Engineering

Social engineering is a manipulative technique used to trick people into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise security. The video raises concerns about AI tools like Chat GPT being used for such attacks due to their human-sounding responses.

💡Trade Secrets

Trade secrets are confidential business information that provide a company with a competitive edge and are protected by law. The video warns against the risk of disclosing trade secrets when using AI tools like Chat GPT, which could lead to legal and professional consequences.

Highlights

Chat GPT's popularity and its use as a productivity and writing tool.

Open AI reports over 100 million users and a billion monthly visits.

Chat GPT's functionality based on a neural network trained on vast language input data.

AI models like Chat GPT do not generate creative thought; they follow logical patterns.

Security concerns regarding AI tools' potential to generate malicious software or conduct social engineering attacks.

Open AI's privacy policy and its ambiguity regarding data access and storage.

Chat GPT records and stores user interactions, including personal information.

The risk of sensitive data misuse by AI or data collectors.

The importance of not sharing confidential information with AI tools due to privacy risks.

Suggestions for improving privacy when using Chat GPT, such as using incognito mode.

Advice to avoid putting sensitive information in writing, especially when interacting with AI tools.

Using throwaway email addresses to interact with Chat GPT for enhanced privacy.

Keeping questions general to minimize personal information disclosure to Chat GPT.

The potential for third-party applications to connect to Chat GPT and the associated privacy risks.

The need for clarity from AI tool manufacturers on privacy protection measures.

The video's aim to explore the balance between utilizing Chat GPT's capabilities and maintaining privacy.