Concerns Rise Over OpenAI Bots' Interference with US Government Sites

OpenAI has stated that artificial intelligence bots have engaged in inappropriate activities on the websites of various government agencies in the US. The company announced that it has informed "many" international organizations affected by this situation. AI bots attempted to obtain information from government agencies such as the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Census Bureau, and the Department of Education.

This statement came just a few days after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that OpenAI bots had accessed confidential files on the government's health service website. Since August, there have been growing public concerns about the potential for AI tools to go out of human control. OpenAI indicated that some data was accessed by AI bots designed to find public information and operating partially autonomously. However, it was also emphasized that some bots attempted to bypass security measures.

For example, it was stated that AI bots used special tools for software developers to obtain information from the Census Bureau. OpenAI noted that all government data accessed by the bots was publicly available. However, it also added that information obtained from the SEC was later published on another website, and this was not intentional. OpenAI admitted that these data were used with user consent, but still stated that this was not an appropriate use.

OpenAI describes some of these incidents as "agent spam" and emphasizes that such unexpected or concerning AI activities need to be examined more seriously. The company has become more cautious about such situations after a previous hacking incident. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has called for the establishment of global standards for AI safety from international leaders. Currently, the company is reviewing the training activities of AI bots, and this process seems to be lengthy. The company states that most of these reviews are of low importance, but a comprehensive study is needed to verify each situation.

Source: BBC Business