Chatbot jeopardizes reputation?
Antitrust authorities are investigating against ChatGPT makers
07/13/2023, 5:35 p.m
Generative artificial intelligence is trained with vast amounts of data. These often come from the Internet. ChatGPT developer OpenAI not only faces several lawsuits for copyright infringement, but also an investigation by the Cartel Office.
The US antitrust authority FTC has initiated investigations against OpenAI for an alleged violation of consumer protection laws. She is investigating allegations that the popular chatbot ChatGPT endangers personal data and people’s reputations, according to a 20-page letter from the authority to the Microsoft holding. She also requested comprehensive information on how OpenAI deals with the risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI).
One question asked what measures the company was taking to prevent “false, misleading or defamatory statements about real people”. The Washington Post first reported on the investigation. The FTC did not want to comment on this topic, OpenAI could not initially be reached for a statement.
So-called generative AI is trained with vast amounts of data, which are often gathered from the Internet. This also includes personal entries on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. In addition, all inquiries and information provided by users flow into the database.
Last month, several authors sued OpenAI because Microsoft’s participation in training its AI ChatGPT had used their works without permission. The prominent US comedian Sarah Silverman and other authors raise similar allegations in a separate lawsuit against OpenAI and Facebook parent Meta, which also developed an AI.
For this reason, Google, whose ChatGPT rival “Bard” is now also available in Germany, is confronted with a billion-dollar lawsuit in the USA. The plaintiffs accuse the Alphabet subsidiary of using unauthorized personal and copyrighted information to train its AI and are demanding at least five billion dollars in damages.