---
title: "Briefly restricting employee access, Microsoft cited security concerns with OpenAI's ChatGPT."  
description: "Briefly restricting employee access, Microsoft cited security concerns with OpenAI's ChatGPT."  
author: "Saumya Mishra"  
published: 2023-11-10  
updated: 2023-11-10  
canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/news/3517/briefly-restricting-employee-access-microsoft-cited-security-concerns-with-openai-s-chatgpt  
category: "technology"  
tags: ["microsoft", "chatgpt"]  
reading_time: 2 minutes  

---

# Briefly restricting employee access, Microsoft cited security concerns with OpenAI's ChatGPT.

[Microsoft](https://www.mindstick.com/category/article/microsoft-office) briefly blocked its employees from using ChatGPT, a large [language model](https://www.mindstick.com/interview/34471/what-is-a-large-language-model-llm) [OpenAI](https://www.mindstick.com/blog/303065/open-ai-be-the-next-tech-giant) created on Thursday due to [security and data](https://www.mindstick.com/forum/160346/explain-the-security-and-data-integrity-challenges-associated-with-nosql-databases) concerns. The company later restored access to [ChatGPT](https://www.mindstick.com/articles/333721/now-you-can-speak-to-chatgpt), saying the blockage was a mistake resulting from a test of systems for **large language models**.

- **On Thursday, Microsoft briefly blocked employees from using ChatGPT, a large language model from OpenAI.**
- **The company cited security and data concerns for the blockage, but later restored access, saying it was a mistake.**
- **Microsoft has invested billions of dollars in OpenAI and the two companies are closely tied.**

#### Microsoft's Initial Blockage

**Microsoft** initially blocked employees from using **ChatGPT** and [design software](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/102075/describe-the-functions-of-graphic-design-software) [Canva](https://yourviews.mindstick.com/view/tags/canva) but later removed a line in the advisory that included those products. The company's update recommended people use the company's own **Bing Chat** tool, which relies on OpenAI [artificial intelligence](https://www.mindstick.com/services/artificial-intelligence) models.

#### OpenAI's Response

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote in a post on **X** that the rumors that OpenAI was blocking **[Microsoft 365](https://www.mindstick.com/news/3347/microsoft-releases-bing-chat-enterprise-and-microsoft-365-copilot-pricing-information)** in retaliation for the blockage of ChatGPT were "**completely unfounded**."

#### Microsoft's Previous Guidance on ChatGPT

In January, a high-ranking Microsoft engineer wrote in a forum that employees could use ChatGPT but advised against entering confidential information.

![Briefly restricting employee access, Microsoft cited security concerns with OpenAI's ChatGPT.](https://www.mindstick.com/usernews/655071/cf257773-100d-4895-9962-ce2b840807cd/images/6bc9686e-9683-4442-96c7-851c3dcc5b91.png)

#### Anonymous Sudan Attack

Earlier this week, a hacking [group called](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/43368/why-did-a-group-called-separatists-come-to-america-in-1600) Anonymous Sudan said it targeted ChatGPT in an attack because of "OpenAI's cooperation with the occupation state of Israel" and because **Altman** said he's "willing to invest into Israel more."

---

Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/news/3517/briefly-restricting-employee-access-microsoft-cited-security-concerns-with-openai-s-chatgpt

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