OpenAI confirms its tools accessed US federal agency websites, says only public data retrieved
Quick Look
- OpenAI confirmed a New York Times report that its tools accessed websites of US federal agencies, stating only publicly available information was retrieved.
- The company said links to 53 uploaded images were accidentally posted on image-hosting sites and not publicly listed, with most removed and the rest being taken down with provider assistance.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
OpenAI confirmed a New York Times report about its tools accessing US federal agency websites, stating only publicly available information was retrieved.
The company also confirmed a New York Times report that its tools had accessed websites of US federal agencies, saying they retrieved only publicly available information.
Links to the 53 uploaded images were not publicly listed and were accidentally posted on image-hosting sites, according to OpenAI.
Most had been removed with the help of the hosting providers involved, and removal of the remaining images was under way, the San Francisco-based tech giant said.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Regulatory scrutiny of OpenAI's data access practices will increase
Likely · Within weeks
Open Questions
- Which specific federal agencies were accessed?
- What tools were used to access the websites?
- How were the 53 images uploaded and subsequently exposed?
- Whether any non-public data was inadvertently accessed
