On July 19, Perplexity launched its AI-powered browser Comet that blends chatbots and automation with web browsing, and with it launched a new data privacy risk wave by requesting broad access to users’ personal data.
AI’s Deep Browser Infiltration
Browsers like Comet now come with built-in AI assistants promising to save time by summarizing emails, booking events, or drafting responses. However, this convenience comes with challenges in data privacy risk management that users rarely consider.
One example is that Perplexity’s new novel browser offers AI search and automation features. Yet according to TechCrunch – who recently exhibited Comet – connecting it with a Google account resulted in a huge set of permissions including writing emails, viewing contacts, editing calendars, and copying an entire company employee directory. This highlights the need for thoughtful data privacy risk assessment before granting such access.
Perplexity describes that much of the data is stored locally, but users are nevertheless surrendering rights over their personal data. This means that intelligent systems are able to use your data to train their models, a thing that is raising concerns around AI with access to real time data.
AI Tools Asking for Too Much
The issue is not with just one browser, but more with the majority of AI using meeting transcription software or voice assistants, need access to your calls, calendar, and even private chats.
Meta, for example, has been testing AI tools that tap into users’ photo libraries, emphasizing how these trends carry risks of an AI that can access real time data.
Signal president Meredith Whittaker warns that using AI assistants is like “putting your brain in a jar,” and to book a restaurant or a concert, AI would ask for permission to open your browser, passwords, credit cards, calendars, contacts, and a lot of personal information.
This suggests a lack of a good data privacy governance framework.
Once permission is given, businesses can store snapshots of your inbox, conversations, or calendar appointments forever. This brings to light the criticality of data privacy risk
and how much faith consumers must put in technology that is flawless.
As AI becomes increasingly embedded in daily life, it is important to be cautious and think twice. Is the convenience worth the data privacy risk of giving up so much personal information involved? To maintain privacy in this era of AI requires ongoing attention and mindful decision-making.
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