Apple has instructed its staff to refrain from using the ChatGPT chatbot within business workflows. This decision, reported in prominent outlets, underscores a cautious stance toward AI tools that might access or transmit sensitive company information. In addition to ChatGPT, Apple has barred the use of Microsoft’s Copilot, a program that automates AI-driven code generation and other tasks. The central concern cited by Apple’s leadership is that AI services could collect data uploaded by employees, potentially exposing proprietary developments or confidential conversations.
It is a reality that many chatbots process data to improve their platforms, sometimes sending information back to developers. A notable incident occurred in March when a bug in ChatGPT allowed some users to view the history of other users. In response, the service’s developers introduced a feature that lets users disable the logging of activity, offering a measure of control over what gets recorded. Nevertheless, Apple remains wary about any data that could cross internal boundaries or leak sensitive material.
The ban on chatbot use in Apple’s workflows is part of a broader trend. Similar caution has been observed at JPMorgan Chase and Verizon, where executives asked employees to rely on AI-based internal tools to minimize the risk of information leaks while still leveraging automation and efficiency gains. Industry chatter has suggested that Apple may be pursuing an internal AI model, crafted to meet the company’s security and privacy requirements before a broad public release. Some observers believe this could position Apple to offer a highly controlled, enterprise-grade AI solution in the near future.
Public discussion around AI safety has intensified since a former creator of ChatGPT spoke about the potential dangers associated with the technology. The debate continues to evolve as large language models become more capable, raising questions about data governance, model transparency, and the safeguards that organizations need to deploy to protect intellectual property and user privacy while still benefiting from automated insights.