Richard Golian

1995-born. Charles University alum. Head of Performance at Mixit. 10+ years in marketing and data.

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Irresponsible Sharing of Sensitive Data with AI

AI data security and corporate risk
Richard Golian
Richard Golian · 2 033 reads
Hi, I am Richard. On this blog, I share thoughts, personal stories, findings — and what I am working on. I hope this article brings you some value.
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In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI) has increasingly integrated into our daily lives, and its influence continues to grow. Chatbots and AI assistants help us complete tasks, automate processes, and improve efficiency. But it is astonishing how thoughtlessly corporate and personal data are shared with AI tools without considering the risks. Many fail to realise the extent of the exposure and potential consequences.

AI and Irresponsible Leaks of Corporate Data

I understand the temptation – uploading a spreadsheet into ChatGPT or Gemini and letting AI assist with analysis. The latest trend is the Chinese chatbot DeepSeek, which is rapidly gaining popularity. However, many employees do not consider that they are copying entire customer databases, internal reports, business strategies, product sales data, and other sensitive marketing information into these tools—without any idea where this data ultimately goes!

Why Is This a Huge Problem?

  • Loss of Control Over Data – Do we really think AI simply forgets what we provide? Data can become part of its knowledge base, and even though developers claim they do not store it, the truth is often more complicated.
  • Geopolitical Risks – DeepSeek is a Chinese AI, and we all know how things work in China. Companies are under government scrutiny, and if you think your data cannot end up in the wrong hands, it’s time to wake up.
  • Violation of GDPR and Other Regulations – Many do not realise that they might be violating GDPR, exposing their company to hefty fines. A single thoughtless action can create serious problems.
  • Competitive Threat – If we believe our competitors are not seeking ways to access valuable data, we are mistaken.

Employees must recognise that every interaction with AI can have consequences. It is crucial that they:

  • Think Before Sharing Data – Before uploading any data into an AI tool, they should evaluate whether it truly needs to be processed this way.
  • Consult Company Policies – Companies should have clearly defined rules on what data employees can share with AI. If such policies do not exist, it is in employees' own interest to push for their creation. This can prevent situations where they inadvertently create a problem that jeopardises not only the company but also their own job security.
  • Use Internal AI Solutions – Whenever possible, they should prioritise AI models managed and controlled by the company instead of public chatbots.
  • Improve Their Digital Literacy – The more employees understand how AI works, the better they can protect sensitive data.

AI and Irresponsible Sharing of Personal Data

Sharing data with AI is not just about databases and business strategies. Every question we ask chatbots provides them with details about our thinking, interests, and values. In the future, these insights could be sold to companies for even more aggressive advertising targeting or to political parties for manipulation of public opinion.

Our interactions with chatbots also reveal our knowledge, problem-solving abilities, and thinking patterns. Essentially, this creates a database of the intelligence of the entire human population. Even my imagination is not enough to grasp how this might be exploited in the future, but the probability that someone will use this information against certain groups of people is very high.

This is a serious issue, and it is high time we start acting responsibly. Let’s not be lulled by convenience and assume that this does not concern us. If we do not wake up now, it may soon be too late.

Common questions on this article's topic

Why is sharing corporate data with AI tools risky?
Because data uploaded to public AI tools like ChatGPT or Gemini may be used to train future models, retained for monitoring, or in some cases potentially accessible through security vulnerabilities. Research shows that 77% of employees have pasted company information into AI services, with sensitive data making up over a third of inputs. In the article, the core concern is that employees upload customer databases, internal reports, and business strategies without any idea where this data ultimately goes.
What are the specific risks of using Chinese AI tools like DeepSeek?
DeepSeek, which became the most downloaded app on Apple's U.S. store in January 2025, operates under China's National Intelligence Law — which requires companies to cooperate with government security investigations. In the article, this geopolitical dimension is highlighted: if you think your data cannot end up in the wrong hands through a Chinese AI tool, it is time to wake up. The combination of rapid adoption and minimal user awareness creates a significant data exposure risk.
Can sharing data with AI violate GDPR?
Yes. The European Data Protection Board has confirmed that GDPR applies to AI models trained on personal data. Italy fined OpenAI 15 million euros for GDPR violations in December 2024. In the article, the concern is that many employees do not realise they may be violating data protection regulations through a single thoughtless action — exposing their company to significant fines and creating problems that jeopardise both the organisation and their own job security.
What do AI tools learn from our interactions?
Every question and conversation reveals patterns about how we think, what we know, what problems we are trying to solve, and how we approach them. In the article, this is described as creating a database of the intelligence of the entire human population. These insights go beyond individual queries — they map thinking patterns, knowledge gaps, and decision-making processes that could be exploited for advertising targeting, political manipulation, or purposes not yet imagined.
How can employees protect sensitive data when using AI?
In the article, four practical steps are recommended. Think before sharing — evaluate whether data truly needs to be processed by an external AI. Consult company policies — or push for their creation if they do not exist. Use internal AI solutions managed by the company instead of public chatbots whenever possible. And improve digital literacy — the more employees understand how AI works, the better they can protect sensitive information.
Why should individuals care about AI data privacy?
Because the data is not just corporate. In the article, personal interactions with chatbots are identified as equally concerning. Our conversations reveal our values, interests, and cognitive patterns. The probability that someone will use this information against certain groups of people in the future is described as very high. If we do not start acting responsibly now, it may soon be too late.
Richard Golian

If you have any thoughts, questions, or feedback, feel free to drop me a message at mail@richardgolian.com.

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