Apple restricted ChatGPT over confidentiality concerns

What happened

Apple restricted internal use of ChatGPT in 2023 as concerns grew about confidential data leaving the company. Reuters reported Apple as one of several firms curbing generative AI tools just as employees were starting to fold them into daily work.

The real problem wasn't the technology - it was that an employee could route a task that used to happen inside a secure environment through an external tool instead, with no policy governing that choice.

The business problem

The company needed to control which data could leave its environment and which tools employees were allowed to use for their work.

What could have helped

• Maintain an approved AI tools list
• Classify data before deciding what can touch external tools
• Put a written AI policy in place before adoption outpaces it
• Vet vendors handling company data

Where this points