OpenAI and training data firm Handshake AI are reportedly requesting that third-party contractors upload examples of real work completed in previous and current roles, raising concerns about intellectual property and data privacy. According to a report in Wired, this initiative appears to be part of a broader strategy among AI companies to leverage contractors for generating high-quality training data, with the ultimate goal of automating more white-collar tasks.

OpenAI's request, outlined in a company presentation, asks contractors to detail tasks performed at other jobs and provide concrete examples of their work, including documents, presentations, spreadsheets, images, and code repositories. The company instructs contractors to remove proprietary and personally identifiable information before uploading these files, directing them to a "ChatGPT Superstar Scrubbing tool" for this purpose.

The practice of using real-world data to train AI models is becoming increasingly common. These models, particularly large language models (LLMs) like those developed by OpenAI, require vast amounts of data to learn patterns and generate coherent and relevant outputs. By training on diverse examples of real work, AI developers aim to improve the models' ability to understand and automate complex tasks.

However, this approach raises significant legal and ethical questions. Intellectual property lawyer Evan Brown told Wired that AI labs adopting this method are taking a considerable risk, as it relies heavily on the trustworthiness of contractors to properly scrub sensitive information. The potential for accidental or intentional disclosure of confidential data is a major concern.

The use of real-world data also raises questions about consent and privacy. While OpenAI instructs contractors to remove personally identifiable information, it may not always be possible to completely anonymize data, especially in cases where the work contains unique identifiers or sensitive details. The implications for individuals whose data is used in this way are not yet fully understood.

The push to automate white-collar work through AI is driven by the potential for increased efficiency and cost savings. However, it also raises concerns about job displacement and the changing nature of work. As AI models become more capable of performing tasks previously done by humans, it is important to consider the social and economic implications of this technological shift.

Currently, it remains unclear how OpenAI and Handshake AI are addressing the legal and ethical concerns surrounding their data collection practices. The companies have not yet issued a public statement on the matter. The long-term impact of this approach on the AI industry and the workforce remains to be seen.