THE AI FEED
Slack, the popular Workplace Collaboration platform now part of Salesforce, has found itself in the midst of a controversy over its decision to use customer data for training AI models.
The company recently revealed that it has been analyzing messages, content, and files from its users to develop Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) models, a move that has not been well-received by its user base.
Slack’s AI and Data Collection
Slack’s approach to AI involves using customer data to enhance its services, such as improving channel recommendations and search results. However, the fact that this data scraping happens by default has alarmed many users, who feel that their privacy has been compromised without their explicit consent.
Opting Out of Slack’s Data Use
While users can opt out of having their data used for AI training, the process is far from straightforward. Slack requires users to send an email to its customer experience team with specific details to opt out, a method that has been criticized as cumbersome and user-unfriendly.
In fact, Many users feel that this Workplace Collab Platform should have provided a more straightforward, in-app option for opting out, making it easier for them to control how their data is used.
User Reaction to Practices Adopted by Slack
The backlash against the Platform’s Data use practices has been swift and intense. Corporate administrators and CISOs (Chief Information Security Officers) have expressed concerns over the privacy implications of using sensitive content from direct messages and other communications to train AI models.
Users feel betrayed by a platform they trusted to keep their workplace conversations private.
Defense from Slack
In an attempt to address the criticism, the Workplace Platform has assured users that it has technical measures in place. These measures prevent data leakage across workspaces.
The Company also claims that Slack AI, a generative AI experience sold separately, does not use Customer data to train its Large Language Models (LLMs).
According to the Owners of this Platform, this add-on keeps all data within the organization’s control. Additionally, this add-on does not share it with third parties. However, these assurances have done little to alleviate the concerns of many users.
Continued Controversy
The controversy surrounding Slack’s data use practices shows no signs of abating. Users are not only upset about the use of their data but also about the inconvenience of the opt-out process. Many feel that Slack’s decision to make opting out difficult demonstrates a lack of respect for user privacy and preferences. This is further eroding trust in the platform.
Watch here : More on Slacks’ Use of User Data
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