Latest AI tools call for intelligent response
- Groundbreaking chatbots such as ChatGPT demand a cautious approach from the public, and regulators need to strike the right balance between protecting privacy and allowing technology to advance
Technological developments that have reshaped the world since the early days of the internet have generally been met with both excitement and concern. Our lives have been transformed by the ease with which information can be accessed and conveyed to others and services obtained.
But this has inevitably made inroads into our personal privacy, while fuelling worries about misinformation, scams and corruption of the young.
New artificial intelligence (AI) tools, notably the groundbreaking ChatGPT, are attracting the attention of regulators.
Italy imposed a temporary ban on the powerful chatbot last month after a data breach allowed users to view the conversations and payment details of others. The creators of the tool, US-based OpenAI, said this was due to a bug that has now been fixed.
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But the Italian data-protection authority is investigating whether ChatGPT, which provides users with sophisticated responses to their requests for information, has breached European Union privacy laws.
It has challenged the legality of the mass collection of data needed to develop the chatbot’s algorithms and warned it risks exposing minors to unsuitable material.
Hong Kong’s privacy watchdog has promised to monitor the risk of personal data leaks from generative AI tools such as ChatGPT. It has urged users to avoid disclosing personal data to AI chatbots or at least keep it to a minimum.
The Office of the Privacy Commissioner for Personal Data has also warned users to only download such tools from verified and trusted sources.
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The chatbot is not officially available in Hong Kong, but may be accessed via a virtual private network or alternative apps. There is a need for caution to be exercised by users while the technology develops and its popularity grows.
The feeding in of personal data will, for some, be seen as necessary to achieve the required response from such tools. But they should be aware of the risks.
Platform operators, meanwhile, must ensure sufficient steps are taken to prevent security breaches.
Regulators will, eventually, catch up with the fast-moving developments. When they do, they will need to strike the right balance between protecting privacy and allowing the technology to advance.
