A recent survey of 500 employed US adults found that 38% have entered at least one type of work information into a personal AI account their employer does not control. This includes internal documents, financial or sales figures, customer or client information, contracts, and employee data.

Legal Implications

The survey revealed that 64.4% of workers did not know that entering confidential company information into a personal AI account can be against the law. Under the California Uniform Trade Secrets Act and the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act, disclosing information that derives value from secrecy can constitute misappropriation.

When asked who should bear the most legal responsibility when company information leaks through a personal AI account, 42.8% of respondents pointed to the employee, while 22.4% said the responsibility should be shared equally among the employee, employer, and AI company.

Workplace Policy

The survey also found that only 35.8% of workers have a clear, written policy on what work information may be shared with AI tools. This lack of policy can lead to confusion and potential legal issues for both employees and employers.

As AI adoption continues to grow in the workplace, it is essential for employers to establish clear policies and guidelines for the use of personal AI accounts. This can help prevent potential security breaches and ensure that employees understand their responsibilities when using AI tools for work-related tasks.

Original reporting: KEYT (Ventura/Santa Barbara) — read the source article.