We’ve seen an uptick in the number of people using Artificial Intelligence (AI) bots in Zoom meetings. ITS has disabled the Zoom AI Companion, but other non-Swarthmore meeting hosts and attendees are increasingly inviting a AI bots to meetings to transcribe notes and produce meeting summaries.
This growing trend raises concerns about privacy, data security, and meeting etiquette.
A recent Chronicle of Higher Education article, AI Assistants Keep Joining Meetings. Administrators Say It’s Out of Control, highlights troubling incidents where AI bots attended meetings without the owner’s knowledge.
The Chronicle documented both individual and universitywide instances of this trend. At Tidewater Community College, in Virginia, … an instructional designer, unwittingly gave Otter.ai’s tool access to her calendar, and it joined a Faculty Senate meeting she didn’t end up attending. “One of our [associate vice presidents] reached out to inform me,” she wrote in a message. “I was mortified!”
If You’re Considering Using an AI Tool in Zoom
Follow College AI Guidelines: Many free tools do not adequately protect your data. Meetings often involve private or sensitive information, so always consult ITS before using any unapproved tools.
Be Transparent: Inform all meeting attendees that you are using an AI tool and obtain their permission before proceeding.
If You Encounter Someone Else Using an AI Tool
Ask questions: Inquire about whether the tool has been vetted for privacy and security. Understanding the risks can help protect your data and the integrity of the meeting.
Take Action: If an unauthorized or unknown bot joins your meeting, remove it to safeguard your discussion.
Balancing Innovation and Caution
As AI technology becomes integrated into more services, we will be faced with increasing challenges that force us to balance productivity and digital safety. By staying informed and practicing good digital etiquette, we can ensure a secure and respectful environment for all. As always, get in touch with ITS if you have questions, concerns, or ideas.
The featured image is a composite of two images generated by ChatGPT with repeated prompts to “generate an image for a ‘Zoom AI Bot'”