The actual ownership of data has come into question recently with the launch of ChatGPT alongside the question of who owns chatgpt data. As many know, the ChatGPT language model learns from data inputted by the users, as well as content spread far and wide across the internet. This way of operating will surely cause various legal battles over data ownership in the future.
We have seen a similar story in the recent example of the Getty Images Lawsuit over data model ownership.
With the world becoming more digitized by the day and the enhancement of machine learning models, we find ourselves asking the questions, “who owns the data and how do we know?”
Before diving into the discussion surrounding data ownership and large language models like ChatGPT, it is crucial to understand Generative AI.
Generative AI: What Exactly is it?
Generative AI, in many ways, is precisely what it sounds like – generating new content from existing content. In the case of ChatGPT and other models alike, users input queries and receive information compiled from data across the web. ChatGPT’s model has many valuable use cases across enterprises and even personal research; however, ethical concerns are attached. These concerns are almost parallel to what we saw in the aforementioned Getty Images Lawsuit against Stability AI.
To generate new content, large language models learn from data in text, images, videos, audio files, and much more.
The achievements of ChatGPT have shown the world is significant for other language models moving forward. Still, the question remains if the practices are ethical and if the data belongs to them – especially in the form of private business information.
Data Ownership: Who owns chatgpt data?
Large organizations typically have employees whose primary responsibility is handling corporate data and being a caretaker of the model. Although these staff members work with the data daily, it does not belong to them – it is the companies.
My opinion on this topic is pretty simple.
The true owner of any data model is the business organization whose domain including own data assets are described by the model. The content on a company website belongs to them because they paid for and created that content. Most certainly there are also “Terms of Use” involved that you agree by consuming the content on the website.
The same idea, of course, also applies to other material on the internet. One can’t take words written verbatim, which is plagiarism, even if the user is a machine learning model.
With that stated, ChatGPT also deals with other ethical concerns that could lead to legal discussions and other questionable activities.
Ethical Concerns of who owns ChatGPT and Similar Models
Large language models are built on understanding and responding to user inputs made possible by natural language understanding (NLU), natural language processing (NLP), and the ability to learn and enhance over time with more and more usage. Many news outlets and AI professionals refer to the model as a “personal assistant” for daily tasks in and outside the corporate setting.
Within corporations, language models assist customer service representatives and the chatbots on their websites. Optimizing chatbots work by taking the questions or requests sent in by customers and either sending them directly to the ChatGPT API for automatic responses or having a customer service representative type in the query to craft how they should portray information back to the customer. Examples like customer service only works with access to company and customer data as the best customer engagement is personalized to the specific user’s needs. While this practice helps save time and boost productivity, the question of data ownership remains in the pic play.
Should ChatGPT be allowed to use that data to refine its model? I lean on the side of no, but that is a complicated lawsuit to resolve if workers voluntarily input private information into the model. High-level training on the dangers of this has become mandatory for companies to protect their business and customers who instill trust in them.
For protection in the corporate environment, the models must belong strictly to the company and be trained on company data.
Another ethical concern for Generative AI models that use information across the web is how they present their findings. There is inaccurate information in all corners of the internet, meaning the generated text may be presented as accurate when not.
Transparency of sources is also significant. Currently, ChatGPT does not cite sources. So, users do not know what data is used and whether it is reputable. Running the risk of providing inaccurate and untrustworthy findings in business is not an acceptable practice. No original authorship citations can lead to copyright lawsuits because the model does not own the content.
Data cannot be deleted easily within AI models, escalating all the highlighted potential legal and ethical concerns for companies trying to jump into the ChatGPT craze.
The Overall Message
Legal battles over propriety data with large language models are almost guaranteed. Keeping tabs and training employees on what not to put into ChatGPT is an important first step to avoiding many hurdles within your corporation.
Regarding the concerns with data ownership and who owns chatgpt data, I am confident we will see many more safeguards in place soon to protect the organization’s domains and data that belong to them and not the model.
