In a recently leaked internal memo, Walmart has warned its employees of legal action if they share critical information about the company. This decision comes amid allegations that the retail giant is utilizing unfair labor practices and engaging in unethical business activities. Yet, this latest move signals a clear message to employees – don’t speak up or risk facing major consequences. With more companies facing scrutiny over their operations, workers are pushing back and taking matters into their own hands – but what cost do they incur when they can no longer talk freely?
A leaked Walmart memo warns employees not to share ‘any information about Walmart’s business’ with ChatGPT or other AI bots
-In a memo, Walmart Global Tech cautioned its employees to refrain from entering confidential data into ChatGPT.
-Walmart declared that it had previously barred ChatGPT to protect its business from potential danger.
Walmart says:
“Activity that presented risk to our company.”
According to the new regulations, Walmart employees are instructed not to divulge customer data to ChatGPT.
On Tuesday, Walmart instructed its employees about generative artificial intelligence, such as ChatGPT: Do not divulge any data related to Walmart with the emerging technology.
Walmart Global Tech, the retailer’s technology and software engineering arm, sent an internal memo to its employees stating that it had already blocked ChatGPT.
Walmart went on to say:
“After we noticed activity that presented risk to our company.”
“We’ve since taken the time to evaluate and develop a set of usage guidelines around generative AI tools and are now opening ChatGPT for usage within the Walmart network.”
Walmart did not provide any information regarding when they blocked the generative AI or what kind of activity it was involved in upon inquiries. Erin Hulliberger, Walmart’s spokeswoman, merely issued a statement to Insider that declined to answer these questions.
Walmart adds:
“Most new technologies present new benefits as well as new risks. It’s not uncommon for us to assess these new technologies and provide our associates with usage guidelines.”
According to the new guidelines, Walmart employees are discouraged from entering any sensitive, confidential, or proprietary information such as financial details, strategic plans, or personal data of shoppers and staff into Chat GPT.
Walmart went on to say:
“Avoid inputting any sensitive, confidential, or proprietary information.”
The memorandum stated that Walmart personnel should avoid entering details regarding the company’s functioning, guidelines, or plans into the relevant tools.
Before trusting the data yielded by Walmart’s tools, workers must also analyze the results, said the memorandum. Furthermore, they should refrain from copying and pasting existing code into these instruments or using them to write new code.
The memo states that utilizing Walmart data in these devices could endanger the company’s confidentiality and considerably affect our privileges concerning any code, product, information, or content. All employees are responsible for properly handling and safeguarding Walmart’s information.
After the memo, Walmart Global Tech praised ChatGPT as a means to increase productivity and creativity potentially. Still, they cautioned that these generative AI applications should be utilized responsibly.
This memo follows the lead of firms such as Amazon and Microsoft, who had cautioned their personnel against inputting sensitive data into ChatGPT a month ago.
The leaked Walmart memo warning employees not to share any information about Walmart’s business with AI bots like ChatGPT has raised concerns about using AI in the workplace. While AI technologies can offer many benefits regarding efficiency and productivity, there are also potential risks regarding the privacy and security of sensitive information. Walmart’s caution is understandable, given the sensitive nature of business information and the potential for AI bots to be compromised by malicious actors.
Source: Business Insider
