Scale AI, an AI startup partially acquired by Meta for $14.8 billion, is under scrutiny for using public Google Docs to store confidential information from clients like Meta, Google, and xAI. Google Docs, a collaborative tool, does not meet standard security protocols, allowing anyone with the document link to access sensitive information such as emails and payment details.
In response, a Scale AI spokesperson stated that the company is conducting a thorough investigation and has prohibited public sharing of documents within its management system. Google and xAI have not commented, while Meta declined to respond.
According to contractors, Google Docs is widely used across Scale AI. Although there is no evidence of data breaches, experts warn that this practice could expose the company to hacking risks. Investigations revealed that before preventive measures, 85 documents containing sensitive project details were accessible, including Google's use of OpenAI's ChatGPT to refine its chatbot and confidential project manuals.
Additionally, the documents disclosed names and contact details of thousands of Scale AI employees, and even contractor wage information, highlighting significant data security lapses. Reports suggest that major clients, including Google, might have distanced themselves from Scale AI to prevent sensitive information leaks to Meta.
