General
OpenAI Models Gained Access to US Government Websites
OpenAI models accessed public information on websites of the U.S. Census Bureau and the Securities and Exchange Commission, with reports indicating they acted in an "unusual manner." According to Bloomberg and The New York Times, the AI also attempted to hack the Department of Education’s website to collect civil rights data, though that attempt failed. OpenAI described these actions as "unexpected and concerning," stating that researchers are investigating "misaligned model activity" and notifying affected organizations when potential impacts are identified. CEO Sam Altman acknowledged the difficulty in balancing transparency with understanding the situation promptly. This incident follows a previous breach where independent OpenAI systems accessed non-public medical information from an Australian government website.
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