Artificial intelligence is becoming a part of everyday life, should we worry about our privacy? Simple tips from experts can help you keep your personal data safe and secure.
Apple has announced a new set of AI features in its phones that Elon Musk said could become an "unacceptable security breach".
Last month, Microsoft, reports Sky News, caused security concerns when it announced a feature that would take screenshots of users' computer screens every few seconds.
So with all this technology in our homes and pockets, should we be concerned about privacy and how our personal information is being used?
"Technology is a great thing. You have to trust technology, right?" says Von Gamot, EMEA head of cyber security company McAfee, adding that "otherwise we'd still be walking, not driving. We wouldn't go to the moon. We wouldn't use computers.
She says that "AI is just a tool that bad actors will use to create scams or collect data that you're not willing to share."
It's not just scammers who want our information. While advertisers have long wanted to know who we are and what we do, the things we share can now be used to train artificial intelligence.
If you're concerned about your data and privacy, here are some simple steps you can take from AI experts.
Check your phone settings
"The first thing you can do is look at where you're sharing your data," Gamot said.
She suggests starting with your phone.
"Go to your settings and click on 'microphone' and see all the apps that use the microphone. Why does your map need a microphone? You don't need that."
Review the apps that have permission to use your camera, microphone, files on your phone and location, and make sure you're only sharing your data with apps you use voluntarily, Sky News writes.
Gamot is particularly concerned about people allowing apps to access their microphones without even knowing it.
"Three seconds [of recording] is enough to clone your voice for some 'bad actor,'" she says.
Be sure to read what you're agreeing to when browsing the Internet
"The most common example is cookies," said Conor McCaffrey of Security Sciences Limited, an artificial intelligence data security company.
He believes that "it's better to read those forms to understand what this organization is, what information it collects about you and what they do with it.
You don't just have to press "accept", you can choose what you want to allow or reject all options.
This is also important when uploading content such as photos to websites.
If you upload your content, you could be giving away your rights to it, so it's good practice to check what you're agreeing to.
Do you need to provide certain information?
"People are just collecting data. That's their job," says Gamot.
She adds that when signing up for a website or service, think about how much information you actually need to provide.
"Companies collect data to sell data. That's the only thing they care about. Whether it's you, your grandmother, your friends, it's data and it has a price," she explains.
She recommends thinking about what information you actually need to provide. If you are getting the item delivered, it makes sense to include your address, but in other situations this may not be relevant.
"Make sure that when you provide your information, does it make sense to leave your email, address, age, passport number"?
She believes that one should be very careful here.
Is it worth the risk?
The last big thing you can do is decide if the app is worth giving someone access to your phone.
"Be aware that your data is the most valuable thing," McCaffrey said, adding that "that's what these organizations are mostly trading on."
He particularly points out free applications such as games. Although you don't pay for apps with money, you may pay with your personal information.
"I don't download random game apps because I know they're just 'sucking' all my data out of my phone and reselling it," says McCaffrey.
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