Businesses Must Think Twice Before Feeding AI Their Data

Businesses Must Think Twice Before Feeding AI Their Data

By Brian O'Brien

In the digital arms race, businesses are increasingly turning to artificial intelligence to sharpen their competitive edge. From automating workflows to analysing market trends, AI tools have become indispensable. But there is a growing, and largely unspoken, risk that businesses are sleepwalking into—feeding sensitive corporate data into AI models they do not control.

The rise of AI platforms such as Deepseek and a raft of other lesser-known models poses a serious risk to Irish businesses. These tools are often cloud-based, developed by unknown entities, and operate in ways that are opaque to their users. In contrast, Microsoft’s Copilot for Enterprise offers a safer alternative, allowing businesses to harness AI without the existential risk of corporate espionage or data leaks. The difference between the two approaches is stark, and the cost of getting it wrong could be catastrophic.

The Hidden Dangers of Unknown AI Platforms

When businesses enter data into an AI model, they must ask themselves a fundamental question: where does this information go, and who has access to it? With models like Deepseek and others, the answer is often unclear. Many of these AIs are built and maintained by organisations outside of Europe, subject to laws and regulations that offer little to no protection to Irish businesses.

Even more concerning is the risk of data being used to retrain public models. If a company unknowingly inputs proprietary information—be it customer details, pricing strategies, or internal documents—there is no guarantee that it won’t resurface elsewhere. In an age where data is the new oil, businesses cannot afford to spill it into the hands of unknown actors.

Another overlooked danger is compliance. Under GDPR, companies operating within the EU are required to ensure that any data shared with third parties is adequately protected. Can businesses truly guarantee that with these AI models? If a regulator comes knocking, ignorance will be no defence.

The Copilot for Enterprise Alternative

Microsoft’s Copilot for Enterprise is built with security and data sovereignty in mind. Unlike the freewheeling AI tools cropping up across the internet, Copilot ensures that corporate data remains within a business’s ecosystem. The information processed is not used to train public models, and critically, it remains within enterprise-controlled environments.

This distinction is crucial. A tool like Deepseek may offer powerful generative capabilities, but without transparency over data handling, businesses are taking a blind leap of faith every time they use it. Copilot, on the other hand, provides AI-driven efficiencies without the nagging fear that sensitive documents are vanishing into the void.

Business Leaders Must Take Responsibility

There is a prevailing naivety about AI adoption. Too often, organisations delegate AI decisions to IT departments without fully grasping the consequences. The responsibility, however, rests with leadership. If a CFO wouldn't hand over financial records to an unknown company, why would a CEO allow their employees to upload sensitive data to an unknown AI?

The solution is not to shun AI but to be selective about how it is used. Investing in secure, enterprise-grade AI platforms may not be as flashy as embracing the latest trend, but it is the only way to ensure long-term digital security. In an era of heightened cyber threats and regulatory scrutiny, businesses that fail to take AI data protection seriously may find themselves facing consequences far beyond what they ever anticipated.

For Irish businesses, the choice is clear: proceed with caution, or risk handing over the keys to the kingdom.