Use of generative AI tools (e.g. ChatGPT) by employees
Case reference FOI2023/01816
Published 22 November 2023
Request
I am writing to make an open government request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I would like answers to the question below:
1) Are your employees allowed to use generative AI (e.g. ChatGPT, Bard, Claude, Jasper, etc.) in the workplace for work purposes?
2) Do you have a usage policy in place on the use of generative AI in the workplace? (NOTE: If employees are not allowed to use generative AI as per Q1, please answer "yes").
3) If yes to the above question, can you please share your usage policy with us?
4) Have you had incidents of the following since Jan 1st 2022? If possible please also share the number of incidents.
a) Employees using generative AI outside the bounds of the workplace usage policy (if one exists)?
b) Employees sharing confidential information (e.g. private personal data of employees or residents; confidential financial information) on generative AI platforms
5) Has your organisation taken disciplinary action against employees for their use of generative AI - e.g. for using it outside the bounds of the workplace usage policy? If possible, please also share the number of incidents.
6) Assuming your employees can use generative AI platforms at work - can they use publicly available open source tools like ChatGPT, Bard, Claude, and Jasper?
7) Do you have a specific technology budget allocated to implementing generative AI tools in the workplace, and/or educating employees on their use? If so, and if possible, can you share the budget between Jan 1 2022 and Dec 31st 2024 (or nearest equivalent)?
Response
I am writing to make an open government request for information under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. I would like answers to the question below:
1) Are your employees allowed to use generative AI (e.g. ChatGPT, Bard, Claude, Jasper, etc.) in the workplace for work purposes?
No guidance has been created or issued.
2) Do you have a usage policy in place on the use of generative AI in the workplace? (NOTE: If employees are not allowed to use generative AI as per Q1, please answer "yes").
No.
3) If yes to the above question, can you please share your usage policy with us?
N/A
4) Have you had incidents of the following since Jan 1st 2022? If possible please also share the number of incidents.
a) Employees using generative AI outside the bounds of the workplace usage policy (if one exists)?
None.
b) Employees sharing confidential information (e.g. private personal data of employees or residents; confidential financial information) on generative AI platforms
None.
5) Has your organisation taken disciplinary action against employees for their use of generative AI - e.g. for using it outside the bounds of the workplace usage policy? If possible, please also share the number of incidents.
No.
6) Assuming your employees can use generative AI platforms at work - can they use publicly available open source tools like ChatGPT, Bard, Claude, and Jasper?
No technical restrictions are in place.
7) Do you have a specific technology budget allocated to implementing generative AI tools in the workplace, and/or educating employees on their use? If so, and if possible, can you share the budget between Jan 1 2022 and Dec 31st 2024 (or nearest equivalent)?
No.
Documents
This is Herefordshire Council's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
You can browse our other responses or make a new FOI request.