Samsung restricts employee use of AI chatbots after source code leak
Samsung has imposed a broad ban on employees using chatbots such as ChatGPT for business activities following the discovery of an internal source code leak. This decision was reported by Bloomberg, which cited internal brand correspondence as the basis for the measure.
The prohibition extends to all company owned tablets and smartphones as well as the internal network environment. In contrast, the policy does not apply to the devices Samsung sells to customers, including Android smartphones and Windows laptops. This distinction underscores a focus on protecting corporate data within controlled environments while still offering consumer devices to the public.
Employees have been urged to exercise caution about the information they share with chatbots, even when using personal devices. There is a clear warning that providing private or sensitive data could be inadvertently exposed to AI systems, and violations of the policy may lead to termination. The emphasis is on preventing data leakage through everyday use and ensuring that corporate information stays within authorized channels.
The move to tighten rules follows the leakage of Samsung’s internal source code to a chatbot platform. Reports indicate that permission for sharing certain code samples and configurations was granted by a group of engineers earlier in the year, which sparked a review of how automated tools are used across the organization. The incident highlighted the potential risks of external AI services interfacing with sensitive corporate assets.
In related discussions on AI governance, industry observers note that large tech firms continue to evaluate how to balance productivity gains from conversational AI with stringent security controls. One veteran engineer recently described attempts within a major company to establish clearer policies and guardrails around artificial intelligence usage, emphasizing the need for robust oversight while still enabling innovation. These reflections echo Samsung’s cautious stance and point to a broader trend in enterprise technology management.