OpenAI Faces EU Scrutiny Over Data Privacy for Sora AI Video Service

OpenAI, a research company known for its artificial intelligence (AI) projects, is under the spotlight again from Italian data protection authorities. This time, the scrutiny surrounds concerns about how its new video creation system, called Sora, handles user data.

This is the second time in recent months that OpenAI has caught the attention of the Italian watchdog. The regulator is already looking into potential data privacy violations involving OpenAI's ChatGPT tool, a popular chatbot program.

OpenAI

The latest investigation focuses on Sora, an AI system capable of generating short videos up to a minute long. The Italian regulator expressed concerns about how Sora might process user data and requested information from OpenAI.

In a statement, the regulator said they granted OpenAI 20 days to provide details about Sora. Specifically, they want to understand how Sora handles user data within the European Union (EU), with a particular focus on Italy. The regulator also asked whether Sora is currently available to the public and if there are plans to offer it to EU users, especially in Italy.

OpenAI, headquartered in San Francisco, has Microsoft as a major backer. Microsoft, along with tech giant Google, are known for their advancements in incorporating AI into various products.

Last month, OpenAI launched an online store allowing users to share and sell customized versions of their popular ChatGPT chatbot. This launch came after a delay due to leadership changes within OpenAI in 2023.

The GPT Store, as it's called, offers a platform for users to create and share chatbots designed for specific tasks. Examples include chatbots that can tutor children in math or generate creative cocktail recipes. The store will also allow users to potentially earn money from their chatbot creations, similar to how app stores operate.

OpenAI's GPT Store reflects the company's efforts to expand its service offerings and generate new revenue streams. They also recently announced a new paid tier for ChatGPT aimed at smaller companies, with prices starting at $25 per user per month. This follows the launch of a corporate version of ChatGPT in August 2023, which offered additional features and enhanced privacy protections.

OpenAI's innovative AI tools are attracting attention, but also raising concerns about data privacy. The Italian data protection agency is investigating how OpenAI's new video creation system, Sora, handles user data. This follows scrutiny of OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot. Meanwhile, OpenAI is actively developing its AI ecosystem with the launch of the GPT Store for custom chatbots and tiered subscription options for its ChatGPT service.