Samsung was forced to restrict access to ChatGPT after dealing with multiple leaks of sensitive information by chatbots. The information leaks reportedly occurred shortly after the chatbot ban was lifted due to concerns about information leaks. Awkward.

According to a report in Economist Korea (opens in new tab) (via Tom's Hardware (opens in new tab)), three leaks occurred at Samsung's semiconductor premises after the go-ahead to use ChatGPT was given. Two of the leaks were of equipment information and the other was of meeting content.

One employee allegedly identified an error in the source code of the semiconductor equipment measurement database download program and entered it into ChatGPT to find a solution. It is not known if they received a solution, but they had already leaked the source code of Samsung's fab program to ChatGPT's owner, OpenAI.

OpenAI can and does use user prompts and uploaded images (open in new tab) to help improve the service (i.e. ChatGPT), this does not apply to anything entered via the API. So, if you are using one of these services, keep in mind that OpenAI may use your input to improve its AI.

In another case, a Samsung employee entered program code into a bot to identify yield and defective devices.

Samsung has reportedly threatened to crack down again on the use of ChatGPT. The company has reportedly told employees that "access to ChatGPT may be blocked on the company network if a similar incident occurs even after urgent information protection measures have been taken."

These emergency measures would limit uploads to ChatGPT and could result in a major reprimand for those responsible.

Of course, the easiest way to ensure that this never happens again is to not use ChatGPT at all, and reportedly, Samsung Electronics is trying to prevent other companies from getting their hands on its secret semiconductor source, its own AI The company is considering building a chatbot. Samsung is reportedly pushing for its employees to understand AI and how to use it, so it makes sense to try to find ways to continue using AI internally, but without pesky security concerns.

Samsung is a major electronics manufacturing company. Each year it focuses on providing new chips for cell phones, RAM, NAND, and televisions, but it also makes a number of chips for customers, including Nvidia for its RTX 30 series graphics cards. Now, however, Samsung's rival TSMC is addressing Nvidia's needs with its RTX 40 series.