Controversy in Slack: they have trained their AI using user data without permission

The controversy is served within Slack, a company that in recent months boasted about the capabilities of its Artificial Intelligence. The reason: the training process that their AI has undergone has been carried out by collecting information from Slack users without their consent. This, as expected, has generated many complaints from its users.

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An AI trained without consent

As users of Slack have revealed on social media in recent days, the communication platform focused on businesses has included a brief message in its fine print warning that all information deposited in Slack can be used for training its Artificial Intelligence, Slack AI. This, being a hidden notice that could have gone completely unnoticed, generated numerous criticisms from its community.

Slack, on the other hand, wanted to make it clear that, although the company is using user data to train its AI-based systems, anyone can contact the company to request on a personal level that their data not be used for the training of these systems that apply machine learning to become more effective.

Slack’s plans with AI

The intention of Slack to compete in the booming Artificial Intelligence segment was already known, a market that is not yet fully defined and with a scenario that will provide an advantage to companies that have been able to occupy this space more quickly. That is why the company has preferred to take all the relevant shortcuts, including the use of information from its users without having consulted them beforehand. Users can still choose to refuse the use of their data, but the notice, for many users, comes late and secretly.

Legally, it is a problem that another company like OpenAI has already gone through, and they have solved it through the creation of codes of good practices. Since it is not an illegal act in itself, but negative in terms of public opinion, Slack will have to consider how to address this issue in the short term. Because, even OpenAI has faced complaints from companies like The New York Times, after breaching an agreement between both companies due to a supposed error by ChatGPT.

Author: Daniel García

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