OpenAI, the startup behind the artificial intelligence (AI)-powered ChatGPT chatbot, has launched its OpenAI Bug Bounty Program to reward users who report “vulnerabilities, bugs, or security flaws” in its systems. Under a partnership with bug bounty platform Bugcrowd, OpenAI will offer cash rewards in the range of $200 to up to $20,000 based on the severity and impact of the reported issues.
Increased Scrutiny of ChatGPT
Tech companies often use big bounty programs to incentivize programmers and ethical hackers to help them identify bugs in their software systems. The move by Microsoft (MSFT)-backed OpenAI comes days after Italy temporarily banned ChatGPT over privacy concerns. OpenAI has proposed measures to Italy’s regulator to address privacy issues.
Further, Spain’s data protection agency has urged the European Union’s privacy regulator to evaluate if ChatGPT complies with privacy regulations. Also, France’s data protection agency, Commission Nationale Informatique & Libertés (CNIL), is investigating several complaints about ChatGPT.
In the U.S., the Biden administration has started examining generative AI tools like ChatGPT, given the rising concerns around the tool. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), an agency of the Commerce Department, has put out a formal public request seeking comments over the next 30 days on measures that should be implemented to ensure that AI systems are legal, effective, and trustworthy.
“We know that we need to put some guardrails in place to make sure that they are being used responsibly,” said Alan Davidson, who leads the NTIA, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Reacting to the Biden administration’s move to scrutinize AI development, Microsoft said, “We should all welcome this type of public policy step to invite feedback broadly, consider the issues thoughtfully, and move expeditiously.”
Since its launch in November 2022, ChatGPT has gained a lot of interest in the tech world. It has emerged as the fastest-growing consumer app to have reached more than 100 million users. OpenAI is now considering setting up an office in Japan.
Other companies, including Microsoft, Alphabet (GOOGL) (GOOG), Baidu (BIDU), and Alibaba (BABA) are taking initiatives to grow in the AI space to capture the growing need for AI-powered tools.
