Risks of AI Generated Source Code

As a language model developed by OpenAI, ChatGPT has the ability to generate code, making it an attractive tool for software engineers working on commercial applications. ChatGPT has become the most rapidly adopted application to date and software engineers have already started to use it. GitHub Code Copilot (https://github.com/apps/code-copilot) and Google Bard are rapidly following suite. However, it's important to consider the risks associated with using code generated by an AI model in a commercial setting.

???Code Quality: While ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence alternatives may generate code that is functional, it may not meet the quality standards expected for commercial applications. The generated code may contain bugs, security vulnerabilities, and other issues that could impact the reliability and stability of your application. Additionally, the generated code may not follow best practices and coding standards, which could make it difficult to maintain and update in the future.

Intellectual Property Risks: When using code generated by AI, it's important to consider the possibility of intellectual property infringement. The model may generate code that includes elements that are protected by patents, trademarks, or copyrights, which could expose you to legal liability. It's important to conduct thorough research and due diligence to ensure that the code you use in your application does not infringe on any third-party rights.

???Inadvertent Use of Viral Open Source Software: Open source software is often used to build commercial applications, but it's important to be mindful of the licensing terms associated with such software. Some open source licenses, such as the GPL, have viral elements that require the code to be released under the same license if it's incorporated into a commercial application. If the code generated by AI includes elements of viral open source software, it could expose you to legal liability for not complying with the license terms. Furthermore, image the exposure if code generated by an AI that contains GPL open source is legally deemed to be a derived work, thus falling under the GPL requirements, even if it does not directly reference GPL open source components.

???Lack of Explanation: The code generated by ChatGPT may not be easily understandable to other developers or stakeholders, making it difficult for them to make modifications or understand how the code works. This can be a problem for projects with a large team of developers or for projects that require long-term maintenance.

???Lack of Customization: The code generated by ChatGPT may not be tailored to your specific needs, and you may need to make significant modifications to get it to work properly in your application. This can be time-consuming and may require additional resources to implement.

???Dependence on Training Data: The code generated by ChatGPT is based on the training data it was exposed to during its development. If the training data is biased or limited in scope, the code generated by ChatGPT may not be suitable for your specific use case or may contain biases or inaccuracies.

???Dependence on AI Model Updates: As AI models continue to evolve, it's possible that the code generated by ChatGPT may become outdated, obsolete, or may no longer be supported. This could result in compatibility issues or the need to rewrite the code from scratch.

???Lack of Transparency: It can be difficult to understand how the code generated by ChatGPT was created, which can make it difficult to diagnose and fix problems. Additionally, the code may contain elements that are not transparent, such as third-party libraries or dependencies, which could create security vulnerabilities or other issues.

Given these risks, while ChatGPT may be a useful tool for generating code, it's important to carefully consider the risks associated with using AI-generated code in a commercial setting. Before using code generated by ChatGPT, be sure to thoroughly review and test it, and consult with legal counsel to ensure that your use of the code is compliant with all applicable laws and regulations.