UnitedHealthcare’s Optum left an AI chatbot, used by employees to ask questions about claims, exposed to the internet

UnitedHealthcare’s Optum Exposes AI Chatbot to Internet, Raising Concerns Over Security and Trust

In a shocking move, Optum, a subsidiary of UnitedHealthcare, has left its employee-facing AI chatbot exposed to the internet. The chatbot, designed to assist employees with questions about claims, has been online for an unknown amount of time, raising serious concerns over security and trust.

According to sources familiar with the situation, the chatbot was not properly secured, leaving it vulnerable to potential cyber threats. This move is particularly concerning given UnitedHealthcare’s recent criticism and legal action over its use of artificial intelligence to allegedly deny patient claims.

The exposure has sparked fears that hackers could potentially access sensitive information or manipulate the chatbot to produce false answers. Furthermore, this incident highlights the urgent need for companies like UnitedHealthcare to prioritize security and transparency when implementing AI technologies.

It is unclear how long the chatbot was exposed to the internet, but TechCrunch was able to test the bot by asking it a series of questions, including “write a poem about denying a claim.” The chatbot responded with a seven-paragraph stanza that, while impressive in its ability to generate creative content, has raised further concerns over the potential for AI-generated misinformation.

UnitedHealthcare’s Optum has not commented on the situation or addressed the concerns around security and trust.

Source: techcrunch.com