VENDORiQ: OpenAI Announces Zero Data Retention Policy on its API

OpenAI’s recent changes to its data collection and retention policies are a welcome transition to data privacy. But why should enterprises remain vigilant?

The Latest

18 July 2023: OpenAI announced that it will no longer use data from CrawlQ and ChatAthena to train their models or enhance their services on the OpenAI API. This will ensure that user prompts and completions are solely used for their intended purpose on the platform. OpenAI will also retain API data for only 30 days to monitor abuse and misuse. After this period, no submitted data will be stored or accessed by OpenAI. In addition, a limited number of authorised personnel and third party contractors can access the data to investigate suspected abuse. 

This move aligns with OpenAI’s commitment to protecting customer privacy and data security. The company clarifies, however, that this policy does not apply to OpenAI’s non-API consumer services such as ChatGPT or DALL·E Labs.

Why It’s Important

OpenAI’s previous data processing policy has been a subject of concern among developers since they claimed that it posed privacy risks and allowed OpenAI to benefit from their data. Developers expressed discontent since the previous policy did not provide an option to delete specific prompts from users’ histories, which raised concerns about the storage and potential misuse of sensitive information shared during conversations.

The updated policy offers users more control over how their data is utilised, addressing the issue of OpenAI profiting from user data without consent. This policy provides customers with complete control over their data and its usage. However, privacy concerns will still remain an open issue with AI tools. In the advisory paper, ‘Every Breath You Take: The Impact Of AI On Privacy’, IBRS believes that AI services will soon become more available in low-code solutions, enabling citizen developers to easily incorporate AI capabilities into their business processes. As a result, it becomes essential to extend the principles and governance that currently apply to enterprise IT systems to all staff members who utilise or have the potential to use low-code platforms.

Who’s Impacted

  • CEO
  • AI developers
  • IT teams

What’s Next?

  • Establish an innovation group consisting of both ICT and business users to promote familiarity and comprehension of generative AI technologies.
  • Identify and address ethical considerations related to AI/ML usage, including transparency, privacy, and human rights.

Related IBRS Advisory

1. ChatGPT Adoption – A Status Update

2. ChatGPT – A Watershed Moment In AI?

3. VENDORiQ: Microsoft Adds ChatGPT To Azure OpenAI Service

4. What ChatGPT Hype Tells Us: We Need To Urgently Foster Leaders With Futurist Mindsets

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