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Scale AI exposed sensitive client data in public Google Docs

Summarize

Project exposure

How Google and xAI’s information was leaked

Business Insider found thousands of pages of project documents across 85 Google Docs linked to Scale AI’s work with Big Tech clients.
These included sensitive details like how Google used ChatGPT to improve its chatbot, Bard.
For Elon Musk’s xAI, public documents revealed details of “Project Xylophone,” which aimed at improving the AI’s conversational skills.
Contractors working with the company revealed that this method is often used to share internal files among its vast army of at least 240,000 contractors.

Investigation underway

Scale AI says it is conducting an investigation

In light of these revelations, Scale AI has said that it takes data security seriously and is investigating the matter.
A spokesperson for the company said, “We are conducting a thorough investigation and have disabled any user’s ability to publicly share documents from Scale-managed systems.”
The spokesperson also emphasized their commitment to robust technical and policy safeguards to protect confidential information.

Personal data leak

Documents contained sensitive info about thousands of contractors

The public Google Docs also contained sensitive information about thousands of Scale AI’s contractors. This included their personal email addresses and allegations of “suspected of ‘cheating.'”
Some documents were not just viewable but also viewed and also edited by anyone with the right URL.
Cybersecurity experts have warned that such practices could make both Scale AI and its clients vulnerable to various cyberattacks, including impersonation or malware insertion.