Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, etc. are getting noticed by more and more people and some of these people have begun using these tools in their day-to-day lives. They’re writing better emails, building dynamic presentations, analyzing spreadsheets, and much more. The question is – is AI safe to use at work?
The answer is – it depends on what you are sharing with the AI model and which model you’re using. For example, when you use Microsoft’s Copilot in an enterprise, you may notice something in the Copilot window that you won’t see at home. At the top right of your screen, you should see a little green shield with a check mark inside. That icon lets you know that this instance of Copilot is using Enterprise Data Protection. In simple terms, that means that anything you’re saying at the prompt, and anything you upload for analysis, is not being used to train the AI model. I would still caution what you share with Copilot, but the data is being anonymized before being sent to the cloud by an extra layer of protection. At home, you’ll notice that this shield icon is missing. This means that anything you share with the AI in your personal interactions is possibly being used to train future versions of that model. There’s a lot more to this story, but the bottom line is that you should sterilize anything personal, sensitive, or confidential before sharing it with AI tools.
The other AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, etc., even the paid subscriptions, do not shield your personal data. The bottom line is to treat your AI tool like a friend or colleague who can’t keep a secret. So, any data you share with it – make sure it has been cleansed of anything sensitive or identifiable first before uploading it or talking about it with an AI tool. I’m hopeful that all the major AI providers eventually offer a feature that can instantly insulate interactions from the model when things are going to get sensitive.
Consider finding a course on AI in your area. Be safe out there!
Karl Plesz
Your Productivity Guru
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