Microsoft-backed ChatGPT, other generative AI may be investigated over privacy
Leon Neal
Generative artificial intelligence systems, like the one created by OpenAI, may be investigated over consumer protection concerns, according to a new letter from a European agency.
The European Consumer Organization, a lobbying group focused on consumer safety, wrote a letter on Monday that asked the Consumer Protection Cooperation Network to look into tools such as ChatGPT, Amazon (AMZN) Web Services, Google's (GOOG) (GOOGL) Bard and others to see if they could increase deception, fraud and mis- and disinformation.
"BEUC thus asks you to investigate the risks that these AI systems pose to consumers as a matter of urgency, to identify their presence in consumer markets and to explore what remedial action must be taken to avoid consumer harm," the group wrote in a letter.
BEUC specifically called out ChatGPT, which it said "can produce inaccurate information while making its outputs sound plausible."
The BEUC, which represents 46 consumer organizations from 32 different countries, is not the only business lobbying group to call for AI regulation in recent memory.
Last month, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce called for regulation of AI in a 14-page report. The normally business friendly group said that although AI is expected to increase global GDP by $13T by the end of the decade, it will impact areas such as national security and privacy, making it important that it is regulated in a responsible manner.
"A failure to regulate AI will harm the economy, potentially diminish individual rights, and constrain the development and introduction of beneficial technologies," the Suzanne Clark-led group explained.
ChatGPT is created by OpenAI, which is backed in part by billions from Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT). Microsoft (MSFT) has integrated the technology into many of its products, including its developer software suite, Power Platform, its Azure cloud and its Bing search engine and mobile apps.
In response, Google (GOOG) (GOOGL) unveiled its Bard chatbot in February, albeit to a mixed reception.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai recently said chatbot technology would be featured in the company's flagship search engine.
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