Recently, artificial intelligence has become a very useful tool for simplifying and speeding up people’s work. It offers us a wide range of possibilities for how to work with it and where we can use it. However, if we decide to use it to solve any problem, we must entrust it with certain information. Is it safe to entrust this data to an artificial intelligence system? How much can we trust the answers it gives us?
Since artificial intelligence is a relatively new and constantly evolving technology, it carries certain security risks that are important to highlight. Using artificial intelligence at work can bring great benefits, but also many problems. We bear responsibility for the data we enter into these systems. Therefore, we must always carefully consider what we make available to the system.
In a previous article on the topic of Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence we described how these systems should be designed and what requirements they must meet to be trustworthy. Here, on the other hand, you can read a list of security measures and guidelines on how to work with artificial intelligence safely:
- Data and Information. Do not send or enter personal, sensitive, confidential, or any data that is important to us into these systems. These systems store this data and learn from it. At the same time, however, an external user may gain access to it, which could result in an unwanted data leak.
- ChatGPT as an Internet Search Engine. Do not use ChatGPT to search for current information. At this time, this chatbot (a computer program with which you can have a conversation) does not have access to the internet and uses only a database from 2021, which severely limits its ability to generate current information.
- ChatGPT and reliable answers. The answers generated by ChatGPT must always be verified. Although it works with a large database of information, it can sometimes make up answers and formulate them in a very credible manner. However, it can describe general and basic questions on a wide variety of topics in a very simple, understandable, and, above all, accurate way. On the other hand, when it comes to concrete and specific questions, its error rate has been noted. It even repeated the error after being alerted to it. Since it draws from a large number of sources, it produces answers that do not have a single source, which can be a problem in an academic context.
- ChatGPT and sources. Check and verify the sources that ChatGPT provides as relevant. If a user asks it to provide sources on a given topic, a situation may arise where the source does not fully cover the issue or the citation is incorrectly recorded. At the same time, however, the sources it cites may be fabricated and may not exist at all, which can cause the user significant problems if used. Another option is to cite ChatGPT as a source, provided all citation guidelines are followed. However, it is not recommended to use this source, as it does not work with up-to-date information.
- Innovative ideas and outputs generated by artificial intelligence. Exercise caution when working with innovative ideas proposed by artificial intelligence. There is no guarantee that the ideas and concepts it actually provides are new and innovative. It is important to realize that many outputs may be protected by copyright, and their use may cause problems. This applies not only to text but also to visual outputs (videos, images, and photos). Additionally, the code generated by artificial intelligence may be malicious and pose a risk to devices.
Many companies use artificial intelligence systems in their work. It is important to know how to use these systems appropriately and correctly. We offer several recommendations that can help with the use of artificial intelligence in a business.
- It is important to educate employees in this area. A complete ban on the use of these systems may not be the most appropriate decision if they can be used for a suitable purpose and in the right way. At the same time, when using these systems, it is advisable to develop guidelines specifying the circumstances in which artificial intelligence may be used.
- Conduct a risk analysis to prevent potential risks and hazards that may arise. Although it is not possible to predict all of them, it is prudent to prepare for a wide range of possibilities.
- If an organization already has artificial intelligence systems implemented in its infrastructure and is actively using them, it is necessary to prevent their access to sensitive data. Otherwise, this could lead to an unwanted data leak, which could cause significant problems for the company.
There are many ways we can utilize artificial intelligence within an organization. For example, using it as an internet search engine, provided that up-to-date information is not required. Also, for drafting texts and social media posts, provided they do not contain sensitive company data, or as a source of inspiration for solving a specific problem. Despite all the risks associated with these systems, they also offer many benefits, and it is precisely these benefits that we need to build upon. Every business or organization should assess for itself how much it trusts these systems and what their use will entail.
Source:
Security Principles for Using Artificial Intelligence Systems
