Security, Compliance,
and Legal Aspects of
Generative AI Chat Tools
Imagine having a conversational, multiskilled, virtual assistant at your fingertips to help you perform various text-based tasks more quickly. That’s the power of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools.
In today’s fast-paced digital landscape, businesses are continually seeking innovative ways to enhance customer service, streamline workflows, and boost productivity. Enter generative AI chat tools, groundbreaking technology that offers the promise of conversational, multiskilled virtual assistants. Platforms like OpenAI’s ChatGPT, Microsoft’s Bing Chat, and Google’s Bard harness the power of AI to revolutionise the way businesses interact with customers and handle text-based tasks.
However, as businesses explore the potential benefits of generative AI chat tools, they must also consider the associated security, compliance, and legal implications. Let’s delve into these aspects to understand the changes, challenges, and actions you should take.
What are the changes?
Generative AI chat tools, powered by Large Language Models (LLMs), have emerged as game-changers in the business world. These tools are trained on massive datasets of text and, in some cases, images to generate human-like responses to questions. They offer businesses the ability to automate responses, handle routine inquiries, and provide support 24/7, improving efficiency and customer satisfaction.
What are the challenges for businesses?
1. Privacy and security: in an era of constant cyber threats, safeguarding sensitive information has become paramount. It’s important to note that ‘out of the box’ public AI tools, like ChatGPT, Bing Chat, and Bard, are not private systems. The technology companies that make them may have access to the prompts and completions and may use the data for training AI models and other purposes.
2. Compliance with data protection regulations: data protection regulations, such as the GDPR, have transformed how businesses handle personal data. Adopting AI chat tools requires adherence to these regulations, ensuring that data is collected, stored, and processed in compliance with the law.
3. Limitations, bias, and hallucinations: while AI chat tools offer immense potential, they also pose risks of biases or producing believable content. They rely on machine learning and computing power to provide statistically likely suggestions based on training data. They may output convincing but factually incorrect answers and lack references to training data sources. Additionally, their training data may not be up to date with world events, limiting their research capabilities.
4. Intellectual property rights: the creative nature of generative AI chat tools raises concerns about intellectual property rights. It’s vital for businesses to understand issues surrounding ownership and potential copyright infringement.
5. Legal liability and accountability: implementing AI chat tools introduces legal responsibilities for businesses. If AI-generated responses could cause harm, businesses may be held liable.
6. Ethics and responsible business: ethics play a crucial role in the responsible deployment of AI chat tools. Adopting ethical guidelines and assessment processes aligned with values and industry practices is essential.
7. Colleague training: with great power comes great responsibility. Unleashing the power of generative AI chat tools in businesses must be complemented with robust training and awareness for those building and using the tools.
What actions should your business take?
Data privacy and security: when implementing AI chat tools, your business must protect the sensitive data used during conversations with AI chatbots. Adopters should ensure that providers invest in robust security and privacy measures and are transparent about their position.
Data privacy and security: when implementing AI chat tools, your business must protect the sensitive data used during conversations with AI chatbots. Adopters should ensure that providers invest in robust security and privacy measures and are transparent about their position.
Regulatory compliance: risk assess new technologies that store or process personal data for privacy law compliance. It’s crucial to consider where the data used in prompts and completions is processed, stored, accessed, and how it’s used.
Regulatory compliance: risk assess new technologies that store or process personal data for privacy law compliance. It's crucial to consider where the data used in prompts and completions is processed, stored, accessed, and how it's used.
Quality control: you must mitigate risks and limitations by training colleagues to check the output before using it. Humans remain the experts and the final quality-assurers.
Quality control: you must mitigate risks and limitations by training colleagues to check the output before using it. Humans remain the experts and the final quality-assurers.
Legal framework: establish clear user policies and guidelines to navigate intellectual property rights and legal liabilities associated with AI chat tools. Seek legal counsel to address specific legal concerns.
Legal framework: establish clear user policies and guidelines to navigate intellectual property rights and legal liabilities associated with AI chat tools. Seek legal counsel to address specific legal concerns.
Manage risk: risk assessment processes, policies, and guidelines should be put in place to address potential risks.
Manage risk: risk assessment processes, policies, and guidelines should be put in place to address potential risks.
Ethical guidelines: develop ethical guidelines for the responsible deployment of AI chat tools. Consider creating a governance board to oversee ethical AI development and ensure transparency in AI tool usage.
Ethical guidelines: develop ethical guidelines for the responsible deployment of AI chat tools. Consider creating a governance board to oversee ethical AI development and ensure transparency in AI tool usage.
Colleague training: provide comprehensive training to employees using AI chat tools, covering limitations, legal requirements, and ethical considerations. Foster a culture of responsible AI usage.
Colleague training: provide comprehensive training to employees using AI chat tools, covering limitations, legal requirements, and ethical considerations. Foster a culture of responsible AI usage.
Expert opinion
Generative AI chat tools have the potential to transform business interactions, streamline operations, and boost productivity. However, navigating the security, compliance, and legal aspects of these tools is critical for long-term success. By prioritising data privacy, complying with regulations, addressing biases, and adopting ethical guidelines, businesses can harness the power of AI chat tools while safeguarding customer trust.
With careful planning and proactive measures, AI chat tools can become valuable assets that enhance customer and colleague experiences and drive business growth in the digital age.
Graham Thomson
Chief Information Security Officer