As you well know, in the United States, they created the Space Force, a branch of the American military dedicated to ensuring the country’s space security… and incidentally, the planet’s security too. We know from Hollywood that they take great pride in that.
Well, the Space Force of the American military has announced a new terrestrial enemy: generative AI. That is, tools like ChatGPT and others.
As reported by Bloomberg, the leaders of the Space Force have banned their Guardians (that’s what the soldiers in this division are called) from using generative AI tools like ChatGPT on government devices, citing that such tools pose security risks, among other concerns.
Fear that ChatGPT might leak classified information
In an internal memo obtained by Bloomberg, Linda Costa, the head of technology and innovation at the Space Force, reportedly told the Guardians that although generative AI “will undoubtedly revolutionize our workforce and enhance the Guardians’ ability to operate at high speeds.”
This, at least for now, seems to mean refraining from using generative AI tools altogether, as Costa cites “concerns about cybersecurity, data handling, and procurement requirements.”
Costa’s reservations, particularly her concern about sensitive U.S. military data, are valid. When we use products like ChatGPT, our interactions are absorbed by data-hungry models, stored, and kept for training purposes.
Therefore, if a Space Force Guardian were to ask ChatGPT to generate a report with confidential government information, that sensitive data could be sucked into the OpenAI system and fall out of the department’s control.
A ban that more and more companies are implementing
Our glorious Space Force is not the only prominent entity banning generative AI. Companies like Apple and Verizon have also prohibited this technology in their corporate systems due to similar concerns about data and privacy. Additionally, at least one major company, Samsung, has already experienced a embarrassing data leak assisted by a chatbot.
It’s strange to imagine Department of Defense employees using chatbots to draft their reports. Responsible and thoughtful adoption of AI, especially when it comes to government institutions, is and will remain incredibly important. And AI is not that, at least for the time being.
