Sears AI Chatbot Conversations and Audio Files Exposed Online

After chats ended, audio recordings continued capturing and were part of exposed data. Despite having just five outlets, Sears maintains its Home Services division with an AI chatbot. Wired reports that this chatbot was leaking customer data, including names, numbers, and appointment details. Security researcher Jeremiah Fowler found three open databases with millions of logs and audio files up to four hours long. These files captured private conversations unbeknownst to customers. The data is secured following Fowler’s notification to Transformco, Sears’ parent company, which hasn’t commented on the breach. Companies must prioritize data security while deploying AI, as Fowler warned. As of now, Transformco hasn’t addressed the breach publicly. Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity.