Is ChatGPT Safe for Business? 8 Security Risks & Compliance Guide 2025

TL;DR

ChatGPT security risks are significant for businesses, with major credential exposures on dark web markets while the platform processes over 1 billion daily queries. Most organizations lack proper ChatGPT security visibility and controls, creating substantial vulnerabilities. New AI regulations like the EU AI Act are creating compliance requirements with penalties up to €35 million, with key provisions taking effect in 2025.

Are ChatGPT Security Risks a Major Threat to Businesses in 2025?

With artificial intelligence adoption accelerating across enterprises—now used by 92% of Fortune 500 companies—ChatGPT security concerns have become more critical than ever. As we move through 2025, security teams face unprecedented ChatGPT risks, confronting AI security threats they may never have encountered before.

ChatGPT continues to be used by employees worldwide, with over 800 million weekly active users processing more than 1 billion queries daily. While it provides almost-instant answers and productivity benefits, the ChatGPT security implications have become far more complex in the enterprise environment.

How Serious Are ChatGPT Security Threats in 2025?

ChatGPT security risks have evolved significantly since its initial release. Recent studies show that 69% of organizations cite AI-powered data leaks as their top security concern in 2025, yet nearly 47% have no AI-specific security controls in place.

Understanding ChatGPT Data Security Risks

The primary ChatGPT security threats come from the information employees input into the system. When employees input sensitive data to ChatGPT, they may not consider the ChatGPT privacy implications when seeking quick solutions to business problems.

According to updated research, sensitive data still makes up 11% of employee ChatGPT inputs, but the types of data being shared have expanded to include:

• Traditional PII and PHI
• Proprietary source code (as demonstrated in the Samsung ChatGPT incident)
• Internal meeting notes and strategic documents
• Customer data for "analysis" purposes
• Financial projections and business intelligence

Copying and pasting sensitive company documents into ChatGPT has become increasingly common, with employees often unaware of ChatGPT GDPR risks under new AI regulations.

What Are the 8 Biggest ChatGPT Security Risks in 2025?

1. ChatGPT Data Leakage and Retention

The most significant ChatGPT security risk involves employees sharing sensitive data through the platform. While OpenAI has implemented stronger data protection measures, ChatGPT retains chat history for at least 30 days and can use input information to improve its services.

New in 2025: Enterprise ChatGPT versions offer improved data handling, but the default consumer version still poses significant ChatGPT business risks.

2. ChatGPT Account Security and Unauthorized Access

A significant ChatGPT security breach resulted in over 225,000 OpenAI credentials exposed on the dark web, stolen by various infostealer malware, with LummaC2 being the most prevalent. When unauthorized users gain access to ChatGPT accounts, they can view complete chat history, including any sensitive business data shared with the AI tool.

3. ChatGPT Data Transmission Vulnerabilities

ChatGPT security vulnerabilities during data transmission pose significant risks. Sensitive information shared with ChatGPT could be intercepted during transmission, giving malicious actors opportunities to misuse business data or intellectual property.

Researchers discovered CVE-2024-27564 (CVSS 6.5) in ChatGPT infrastructure, with 35% of analyzed organizations at risk due to misconfigurations in security systems.

4. AI-Generated Misinformation and ChatGPT Deepfakes

ChatGPT security concerns now include sophisticated AI-generated content risks. In 2025, cybersecurity researchers observe that AI-generated phishing emails are more grammatically accurate and convincing, making ChatGPT-powered social engineering attacks harder to detect.

5. ChatGPT-Enabled Social Engineering Attacks

Bad actors now use ChatGPT to create highly convincing email copy and messages that imitate specific individuals within organizations. Recent research shows ChatGPT phishing attacks are more convincing, and AI is used to craft deepfake voice scams, with 2025 predictions warning of AI-driven phishing kits bypassing multi-factor authentication.

6. ChatGPT Prompt Injection Attacks

Prompt injection represents a new category of ChatGPT security threats where malicious actors craft prompts designed to trick ChatGPT into revealing sensitive information or bypassing safety guardrails. Research shows that by prompting ChatGPT to repeat specific words indefinitely, attackers could extract verbatim memorized training examples, including personal identifiable information and proprietary content.

7. Shadow ChatGPT Usage and Unauthorized AI Tools

"Shadow ChatGPT"—unauthorized or unmonitored ChatGPT usage within enterprises—affects nearly 64% of organizations that lack ChatGPT visibility. This creates significant blind spots for security teams managing ChatGPT business risks.

8. ChatGPT Compliance and Regulatory Violations

New ChatGPT regulations like the EU AI Act create significant compliance requirements with prohibitions starting February 2, 2025, and full ChatGPT compliance required by August 2026. California's updated CCPA now treats ChatGPT-generated data as personal data. 55% of organizations are unprepared for AI regulatory compliance, risking substantial fines and reputational damage from ChatGPT non-compliance.

What Can We Learn from Real-World ChatGPT Security Incidents?

Samsung ChatGPT Security Incident (2023): Engineers from Samsung's semiconductor division inadvertently leaked confidential company information through ChatGPT while debugging source code. According to a company-wide survey conducted by Samsung, 65% of respondents expressed apprehension regarding ChatGPT security risks associated with generative AI services.

Recent ChatGPT Data Exposures (2024-2025): Multiple significant ChatGPT security incidents occurred, including a bug in the Redis open-source library used by ChatGPT that allowed certain users to view the titles and first messages of other users' conversations.

Is ChatGPT Actually Safe for Business Use Right Now?

The answer regarding ChatGPT business safety in 2025 is nuanced. While ChatGPT itself has implemented stronger security measures, including enhanced encryption, regular security audits, bug bounty programs, and improved transparency policies, the primary ChatGPT risks come from how organizations and employees use the tool, particularly without proper governance frameworks.

Current ChatGPT threat assessment: There are confirmed dangers associated with sharing sensitive data in unsecured AI environments, including risks of data breaches, reputational damage, and financial losses. The National Cyber Security Centre continues to warn that AI and Large Language Models could help cybercriminals write more sophisticated malware and conduct more convincing phishing attacks.

What Do the New 2025 AI Regulations Mean for Your Business?

EU AI Act ChatGPT Compliance Requirements

The EU AI Act ChatGPT compliance categorizes AI applications by risk level, from prohibited uses to minimal risk categories. High-risk ChatGPT applications in sectors like law enforcement and employment face stricter compliance standards. Non-compliance with the EU AI Act will result in maximum financial penalties of up to EUR 35 million or 7 percent of worldwide annual turnover, whichever is higher.

US State-Level ChatGPT Regulations

California's updated CCPA ChatGPT compliance now treats ChatGPT-generated data as personal data, while other states are introducing their own AI regulations, creating a complex ChatGPT compliance landscape.

ChatGPT Regulatory Preparedness

52% of leaders admit uncertainty about navigating ChatGPT regulations, making compliance a critical business risk for 2025. Only 18% of organizations have an enterprise-wide council authorized to make decisions on responsible AI governance.

How Can You Secure ChatGPT in Your Organization?

1. Implement ChatGPT Governance and Security Policies

• Establish a ChatGPT governance council with representatives from IT, legal, compliance, and risk management
• Develop a codified ChatGPT security policy outlining acceptable use and security protocols
• Create role-specific ChatGPT training addressing unique departmental risks

2. Deploy ChatGPT Security Controls

• Implement ChatGPT Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solutions designed for AI interactions
• Use enterprise ChatGPT versions with enhanced security features (OpenAI Enterprise, Microsoft Azure OpenAI)
• Deploy AI-driven security solutions to detect suspicious ChatGPT patterns and high-risk prompts

3. ChatGPT Employee Security Training

Updated for 2025: Conduct regular ChatGPT security training sessions covering:

• Recognition of sensitive information types
• Techniques for sanitizing ChatGPT prompts before submission
• Understanding of ChatGPT-specific threats like prompt injection
• Awareness of new ChatGPT regulatory requirements

4. Implement ChatGPT Technical Safeguards

• Zero Trust architecture with strict verification for all ChatGPT interactions
• Multi-factor authentication for all ChatGPT tool access
• Network monitoring for unusual ChatGPT-related behaviors
• Content filtering to prevent harmful or sensitive data sharing through ChatGPT

5. Establish ChatGPT Data Handling Policies

• Never share customer data through public ChatGPT tools
• Use anonymized examples or fictional scenarios instead of real data in ChatGPT
• Implement approval processes for ChatGPT use in sensitive contexts
• Define consequences for ChatGPT policy violations

6. Continuous ChatGPT Security Monitoring and Assessment

• Conduct regular ChatGPT risk assessments aligned with frameworks like NIST AI RMF
• Implement behavioral analytics to detect unauthorized ChatGPT manipulation
• Maintain AI Bill of Materials (AIBOM) for ChatGPT supply chain transparency
• Establish incident response plans specific to ChatGPT security events

Where Is AI Security Heading in 2025 and Beyond?

Key ChatGPT security trends shaping 2025 and beyond:

• Increased ChatGPT regulatory scrutiny with global AI governance frameworks
• Rise of ChatGPT-enabled cyberthreats requiring new defensive strategies
• Growing emphasis on ChatGPT transparency and explainable AI systems
• Integration of ChatGPT security into existing cybersecurity frameworks

What Are the Key Takeaways for 2025?

Bottom Line: While ChatGPT and similar AI tools offer tremendous productivity benefits, the ChatGPT security landscape has become significantly more complex. Organizations must balance innovation with ChatGPT security through:

1. Proactive ChatGPT governance rather than reactive policies
2. Employee education on evolving ChatGPT threats
3. Technical controls specifically designed for ChatGPT interactions
4. ChatGPT regulatory compliance preparation for expanding AI laws
5. Continuous monitoring of ChatGPT usage across the organization

The organizations that succeed in 2025 will be those that treat ChatGPT security not as a barrier to innovation, but as an enabler of responsible AI adoption that builds trust with customers and stakeholders while protecting valuable business assets.

Ready to Secure Your AI Usage?

Don't let ChatGPT security risks compromise your business. Metomic's advanced AI Data Security Solution provides the visibility and control needed to safely harness AI productivity while protecting sensitive data.

Schedule a demo today to see how Metomic can help you:

• Detect and prevent sensitive data sharing
• Maintain compliance with evolving regulations
• Build a comprehensive AI security strategy

Download our comprehensive ChatGPT Security Guide for detailed implementation strategies and risk assessment templates.