UK data experts have issued a warning about popular AI system ChatGPT after Italy banned the AI tool over privacy concerns.
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is a UK body which reports to the Government on data privacy and regulation. In a statement last week responding to the ban, it said there is “no excuse” for violating regulations on collecting personal information.
Italy's decision has led to growing speculation about whether other countries could follow suit. Meanwhile, Twitter CEO and owner Elon Musk signed a letter last month with AI experts calling for an immediate pause in the training of AI systems.
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What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT, run by developer OpenAI, has become extremely popular since its launch last November. People can have conversations with its trailblazing AI and ask it to explain complex topics, give recipe suggestions and even write university essays.
However, there have been concerns over OpenAI’s collection of personal data in order to train its algorithms. The AI is based on a system which is improved by collecting vast amounts of data over the internet.
Criticisms have been raised about ChatGPT in other areas, such as AI automating large amounts of jobs in the future and its role in plagiarism. Pieter Snepvangers, a graduate from the University of Bristol, submitted an essay written by ChatGPT and received a pass from his lecturer. He said: “You definitely can’t cheat your way to a first-class degree, but you can cheat your way to a 2:2.”
Why have Italy banned ChatGPT?
The ICO’s Italian counterpart, the Italian National Authority for Personal Data Protection, said ChatGPT had suffered a data breach concerning user’s conversations with the AI and payment information. It added that this was a “temporary suspension” and has asked OpenAI to fix these issues or risk a hefty fine.
In response to the Italian ban, Sam Altman, the chief executive of ChatGPT-developer OpenAI, said: “We think we are following all privacy laws.”
Could the UK ban ChatGPT?
The ICO issued a firm warning to developers such as OPenAI over putting personal data at risk. Stephen Almond, the ICO's director of technology and innovation, said in a blogpost: “There really can be no excuse for getting the privacy implications of generative AI wrong.”
He added: “It doesn’t take too much imagination to see the potential for a company to quickly damage a hard-earned relationship with customers through poor use of generative AI.” However, Michelle Donelan, the Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary, seemed to dismiss discussion about a ban last month. She argued the Government wants to support the growth of AI while dealing with any potential risks that can arise from it.
She said: "We're not denying the risks. That's why we've got a proportionate framework in terms of this regulatory approach, one that can help the UK to seize the opportunities."
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