Google, maker of AI chatbot Bard, warns its employees about using chatbots

Here's a piece of good, universal advice: Don't share confidential information with an AI chatbot.

If you don't believe me, then take it from Google, one of the biggest proponents of AI and the creator of its own AI chatbot, Bard.

According to a new report from Reuters, Google's parent company Alphabet has warned employees about using AI chatbots, including Bard. Google employees were specifically advised against submitting any confidential information to Bard or any other AI chatbot. 

Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up!

Users of ChatGPT, Bard, or other AI chatbots may not realize that the conversations they have with their newfound AI buddy don't just stay in the chat. AI companies store the content of these chats. These companies have human workers who can access and review the messages sent between users and its AI chatbot.

In addition, researchers have foundthat AI language models often train on the data submitted to them. The purpose of this is for the AI chatbot to "learn" how to better serve the user, but this can also result in AI chatbots sharing the information submitted by one users in its conversations with other users. OpenAI, the creator of the popular ChatGPT, also tells userson its website that it " may use the data you provide us to improve our models."

---

Related Stories

---

• Character.AI: What it is and how to use it
• The 5 best AI chatbots of 2023 (so far)
• What not to share with ChatGPT if you use it for work
• Samsung bans ChatGPT, AI chatbots after data leak blunder
• Apple bans ChatGPT use by employees, report says

Google's not only advising its own employees about potential privacy issues when using AI chatbots, but it's warning its users too – albeit the notice isn't so easy to find.

The company updated its Bard privacy notice page on its Google Support website earlier this month to include the following information, entirely in bold: "Please do not include information that can be used to identify you or others in your Bard conversations."

The best online AI course deals

---

Best for broad learning Complete Machine Learning & Data Science Bootcamp 2023 $24.99 (save 80%)

---

Best for deep learning Tensorflow 2.0: Deep Learning and Artificial Intelligence $29.99 (save 79%)

---

Best for building Artificial Intelligence (ARS): Build the Most Powerful AI $17.99 (save 72%)