The Privacy Concerns and Data Breaches of AI Written by Emerald Raby

AI has become popular over the past year with its helpful digital assistance and decision-making capabilities. The list goes on; there are good things about AI and bad things. Recently, AI has been causing consumers to grow concerned about their privacy and security. The amount of data breaches that occur within platforms is increasing. Texas-based AI platforms for health care have had a data breach of patients' medical records and personal details in Connecticut, Florida, New Hampshire, Texas, and Virginia. The breach leaves their patients exposed to thefts of all kinds and leaves them vulnerable to hackers. Privacy concerns about AI have been growing due to the leaking of sensitive data information about an individual. AI-driven platforms use sensitive information without users being aware of all the data they have. All the data collected causes breaches and makes AI the biggest target for cyber-attacks.  

The "Cisco 2024 Data Privacy Benchmark Study" has shown that 1 in 4 organizations limit AI use due to privacy and data concerns. Organizations are becoming aware of the risk of their information being disclosed to the public and competitors. Privacy is the most important thing a customer looks for in a company to ensure their data is protected. " Privacy has become inextricably tied to customer trust and loyalty. This is even more true in the era of AI, where investing in privacy better positions organizations to leverage AI ethically and responsibly."  

There are ways for companies and users to take proactive steps to ensure the safety of their data. Companies should add more protection like firewalls and security audits and be more transparent to their users to ensure they know what data will be used or collected. Users should be mindful of who they share their information with and start using privacy tools like Google Duo. 

In conclusion, AI has good and bad sides and is still evolving. AI is slowly becoming a part of our lives, so protecting personal data is essential. Both companies and users have to play a part in making sure they are protecting their information. The proactive actions I mentioned can help block breaches and personal data leaks. Stabilizing innovation with privacy will be the key to helping guide us and protect our data in this newly AI-driven society.