Protecting Your Intellectual Property in the Age of AI?
Mark Presnell aka Mr Integration
What did your eCommerce website and your business software say to each other...? Nothing. They don't talk! :)
?In recent news, we were all given a stark reminder of the potential dangers of unchecked artificial intelligence (AI). The unintentional leak of Samsung's confidential source code, caused by a staff member's use of ChatGPT, serves as a warning to businesses here in New Zealand. It highlights the risk of exposing your intellectual property when employees have unrestricted access to AI tools.?
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This incident underscores the perils of AI in a corporate setting. Every company's unique value lies in its distinctive offerings, and the use of AI has the potential to compromise that differentiation.?
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AI has seamlessly integrated into our daily work, providing solutions, speeding up processes, and aiding research. It's a valuable tool, much like the early mobile phones introduced to facilitate our efficiency. However, as we transitioned from company-monitored phone calls to personal mobiles in the workplace, we are now navigating a similar shift with AI. And with this shift comes a blurred boundary that puts our company's most valuable assets, our intellectual property, at risk.?
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New Zealand companies find themselves at a pivotal point in this evolving landscape. The boundaries between what is inside and outside the business must be clarified. Employees who unwittingly use AI to address company-related problems can inadvertently jeopardize the company and, in turn, their jobs.?
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The Samsung incident serves as a prime example. Internal staff working on a new version of their core code turned to AI for solutions without realizing they were inadvertently publishing their source code to an open forum. This act unintentionally made Samsung's software, which drives their hardware, available to the general public and potentially to cyber criminals.?
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It's a stark reminder that in this digital age, the security of our intellectual property is only as strong as our awareness of the tools we employ. So, how can we navigate this new landscape and protect our intellectual property??
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1. Define Your Intellectual Property:?
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Business owners must educate their teams on what constitutes the company's intellectual property and clearly define what requires protection. Clarity is the first step in safeguarding your valuable assets.?
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2. Establish AI Policies and Processes:?
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Implementing robust AI policies and processes is crucial. This includes updating employment agreements to explicitly address the use of AI in conjunction with confidential information.?
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As I always emphasize, you can only trade the loss of intellectual property for speed if it's a conscious decision.?
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3. Secure AI Applications:?
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Identify the specific applications of AI within your business and establish relevant security parameters around them. This may involve running AI platforms internally with controlled external communications.?
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We find ourselves in an era of open doors, where the lines between professional and personal technology use have blurred. Our fascination with technology's capabilities is waning as we become increasingly aware of the potential threats posed by unchecked usage.?
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"The longer we stay ignorant, the more potential for trouble," I often say. New Zealand businesses must take action now to secure their intellectual property and ensure that their digital tools do not become the backdoor through which they lose their most valuable assets. It's a responsibility we must pay attention to in this rapidly evolving digital landscape.?