Generative AI in workplace: A look at CEO plans amid ChatGPT ban by Apple, Samsung and adoption by IBM

ChatGPT burst onto the scene in late 2022, captivating the attention of writers and software developers alike, who were eager to get their hands on the chatbot. Despite its occasional missteps, ChatGPT swiftly ascended to the pinnacle of consumer app stardom, setting a record as the fastest-growing app in history, with a staggering 100 million monthly users by January. Within just one month of its launch, an astonishing 13 million individuals engaged with the AI marvel on a daily basis.

Once an app or technology gains popularity, it's inevitable that it will attract the attention of malicious individuals. In the instance of ChatGPT, it fell victim to an exploit caused by a vulnerability found in the Redis open-source library. These libraries are utilised for creating dynamic interfaces by storing commonly used routines and resources, such as classes, configuration data, documentation, message templates, pre-written code, subroutines, type specifications, and values.

The level of privacy risks associated with ChatGPT depends on how a user accesses the service. If a company uses ChatGPT's API, the conversations with the chatbot remain unseen by OpenAI's support team and are not utilised for training the company's models. However, this does not hold true for text entered through the general web interface using default settings. 

According to OpenAI's FAQ, they review user conversations with ChatGPT to enhance their systems, ensure policy compliance, and meet safety requirements. They advise users not to share any sensitive information during conversations, as these interactions may also contribute to training future versions of ChatGPT. 

As a result of these vulnerabilities, Samsung has prohibited the usage of generative AI tools like ChatGPT on its internal networks and company-owned devices. The concern stems from the potential security risk associated with uploading sensitive information to these platforms, according to a report by Bloomberg News. Similarly, Apple is cautious about employees using ChatGPT and Microsoft's GitHub Copilot, which utilises AI to generate code. Apple fears that such usage could lead to the disclosure of confidential details regarding their own advanced projects.

However, Arvind Krishna, the CEO of tech giant IBM, holds a different perspective. He sees the rise of technologies like ChatGPT as a positive development, as they have the potential to take over "clerical white-collar work." In an interview with the British newspaper Financial Times, Krishna stated that fields such as customer service, human resources, finance, and healthcare could experience automation in the present day rather than in the distant future. The CEO also mentioned that he, “Could easily see 30 per cent of those positions being replaced by AI and automation within a span of five years." 

With ChatGPT facing bans from Apple and Samsung, while IBM embraces it, we were curious about the stance other CEOs are taking on this emerging technology. To gather insights, People Matters reached out to several leaders and inquired about their organisations' approach to ChatGPT and their thoughts on the matter. Here's what we discovered:

Mr Girish Singhania, CEO, EduBridge

At EduBridge, we believe that technology has the potential to significantly improve our working processes and serve our learners more effectively. Tools like ChatGPT can undoubtedly enhance our communication and efficiency. Harnessing Generative AI can boost productivity and provide space for employees to explore new ideas. AI plays a vital role in ensuring business continuity by ensuring the smooth operation of organisational processes even when employees are on leave. 

As an organisation, it is imperative that we utilise these tools ethically and provide our employees with adequate training to utilise them effectively. Our goal is to strike a balance between leveraging technology to drive innovation and maintaining the human touch that sets us apart. While we explore AI Generative tools like ChatGPT within our organisation, we also prioritise the well-being of our learners and employees. 

Amit Gautam, Co-founder and CEO, Innover

Today, technological advancements hold the potential to yield substantial business outcomes, empowering companies to develop new products, services, and revenue streams. At Innover, our primary focus is on driving innovation that uncovers the transformative power of data, AI, machine learning, and other digital technologies. By leveraging these tools, we aim to address customer business challenges and create sustainable value for them. 

Presently, we are actively exploring the integration of AI technologies, including ChatGPT, to optimise processes and enhance efficiency within the ecommerce sector. Our key objectives revolve around automating customer service through natural language-based queries and augmenting product search capabilities with intelligent filtering. Additionally, we are delving into the potential of ChatGPT for applications such as generating product descriptions and tags automatically based on images, as well as providing sales and customer insights through conversational AI.

While we encourage our employees to explore and develop AI use cases, including ChatGPT, in the workplace, we are committed to maintaining strict privacy protocols. We prioritise the careful management of sensitive customer and organisational data, implementing necessary measures to safeguard privacy and confidentiality. 

Vaibhav Sisinty, Founder & CEO, GrowthSchool

ChatGPT, Google's Bard, and a plethora of other AI tools that have emerged are not just shaping the future; they are already here, in the present moment. These tools have the potential to amplify output quality and speed by a factor of 10. For leaders like us, this is a priceless opportunity. We can enhance efficiency and keep our teams operating at their peak performance without the risk of burnout. 

Generative AI is a true game-changer, enabling individuals with diverse skill sets to excel in roles such as data analysts, digital marketers, and more. Additionally, these tools seamlessly integrate with everyday platforms like Slack and WhatsApp. 

At GrowthSchool, we fully embrace this transformative technology, incorporating ChatGPT into all of our courses. Our objective? To empower learners with AI, enabling a team of two to be as efficient as a traditional team of five. It's not about downsizing; it's about maximising efficiency and potential. However, it's crucial to recognise that if you're not embracing AI, you will be left behind. It's not a threat; it's an undeniable reality. So, let's prepare ourselves and surge ahead.

 Sujit Karpe, Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, iMocha

In our recently published research report on Tech Skills Transformation, we have discovered that technology permeates every function of the organisation, regardless of the level of technical intensity in a role. This finding has been validated by more than 50 global talent and tech leaders. Allowing employees to engage with technologies like generative AI, in order to enhance efficiency and productivity in specific aspects of their work, is the way forward.

However, as a CTO, I am equally concerned about protecting sensitive information. To ensure that, I recommend establishing boundaries within which such usage can occur. Starting small, experimenting, and incorporating learnings is essential. Gradually expanding further, continuing to experiment and learn, and incorporating those learnings should be a continuous process.

By following this approach, organisations can strike a balance between leveraging innovative technologies and safeguarding sensitive information. It enables responsible adoption of generative AI and other technologies, while ensuring data security and privacy are maintained.

Aaron Fernandez, Founder of Killowott 

Generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT, have revolutionised the way we work and communicate in the modern workplace. As a technology company, we are constantly exploring methods to enhance productivity and efficiency, while also prioritising data privacy and security. It is essential that we remain mindful of the potential risks of data breaches and take appropriate precautions to prevent any violation of intellectual property norms. We firmly believe in upholding stringent regulations for data privacy and security, while leveraging AI to our advantage. To stay competitive and adaptable in an evolving workplace, it is imperative to embrace the power of AI and ethically harness its potential.