Qantas Confirms Use of ChatGPT in Data Breach Email

ChatGPT used for Qantas CEO's email to millions affected by data breach 🔗

An unusual formatting choice was the smoking gun that led to Qantas confirming that AI had been used to make the email sent to 5.7 million customers — but only for formatting, the company claimed.

Qantas recently confirmed that ChatGPT was used to format an email sent to 5.7 million customers affected by a data breach. The email, from CEO Vanessa Hudson, apologized for the incident and outlined the types of data exposed. A distinctive formatting choice—using an image file for bullet points—revealed the use of AI, as it included metadata indicating it was created by OpenAI’s GPT-4o model. Although a spokesperson stated that ChatGPT was only used for formatting, this raises concerns about the extent of AI involvement in the email's content. The increasing use of generative AI in workplaces has become a topic of interest, particularly in relation to cybercrime.

What was the purpose of the email sent by Qantas CEO Vanessa Hudson?

The email aimed to apologize to customers for the data breach and inform them about the types of data that had been exposed.

How did Qantas confirm the use of ChatGPT in the email?

The confirmation came after a formatting choice in the email led to the discovery of metadata indicating it was generated by OpenAI’s AI model, GPT-4o.

What concerns does the use of AI in this context raise?

It raises concerns about the extent of AI involvement in the email's content and its implications for transparency and accountability in corporate communications.