Samsung has brought external generative AI back under controlled conditions, not through an unrestricted company-wide switch. In June 2026, Samsung Electronics began deploying ChatGPT Enterprise and Codex to all of its employees in South Korea and to Device eXperience (DX) employees worldwide. Semiconductor operations in the Device Solutions (DS) division remain more restricted, and employees must follow security and training requirements. That is a significant reversal of the broad restrictions imposed after confidential Samsung material was entered into ChatGPT in 2023, but it is not proof that every Samsung employee everywhere can use ordinary consumer ChatGPT.
What Samsung’s 2026 rollout actually covers
OpenAI’s announcement says Samsung Electronics is deploying ChatGPT Enterprise and Codex across the company’s work, including research and development, manufacturing, marketing, software development and corporate functions.
| Employee group | Reported position |
|---|---|
| Samsung Electronics employees in South Korea | ChatGPT Enterprise and Codex access |
| Samsung Electronics DX employees worldwide | ChatGPT Enterprise and Codex access |
| Device Solutions (semiconductor) division | More restricted or approval-based during the initial rollout, according to separate reporting |
| Every Samsung Group employee worldwide | Not established by the public announcement |
Yonhap reported that Samsung planned to begin allowing external models such as ChatGPT in June 2026, initially emphasizing DX, requiring security training and retaining tighter controls in DS (Yonhap, May 26, 2026). Samsung Group contains several affiliated companies, so a Samsung Electronics deployment should not be read as one uniform policy for every affiliate.
Why Samsung restricted ChatGPT in 2023
In April 2023, employees reportedly submitted sensitive internal material to ChatGPT. The incidents were described in reporting based on an internal memo, rather than as a confirmed theft of Samsung’s entire database.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
#1 Best Overall
- PRIVACY DISPLAY: Automatically hide your screen from those beside you. The built-in privacy display can be preset¹ to turn on when receiving notifications, typing passwords, or using specific apps
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist² with Galaxy AI.³ Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- NIGHTS, CAPTURED CLEARLY: From gigs to city lights, record and capture moments after dark with clarity using Nightography so your photos and videos stay crisp and clear on your Samsung Galaxy
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile phone, whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more⁴
- HELP THAT KEEPS UP: Stay in the moment while Now Nudge with Galaxy AI helps you respond faster and stay organized with smart suggestions⁵ that appear exactly when you need them on your phone
Reported examples of the disclosures
- An employee entered semiconductor source code to seek debugging or repair help.
- Another employee submitted sensitive technical information for analysis.
- An employee provided a recording or transcript of an internal meeting and asked ChatGPT to turn it into notes or a presentation.
Samsung’s concern was loss of control: information sent to an external service could be retained on outside systems, exposed through misuse or difficult to retrieve and delete. The available reporting does not establish how much information was exposed, whether a competitor accessed it, or that the code became part of a public model’s training data. The defensible fact is that confidential material was transmitted to an external AI service.
On May 2, 2023, Samsung’s restrictions were publicly reported by Bloomberg and TechCrunch.
Rank #2
- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
What was banned?
The restriction covered more than ChatGPT. Reports said Samsung limited access to external generative-AI services including Google Bard, Microsoft Bing’s AI features and other similar services on company devices. Employees using such tools elsewhere were reportedly told not to submit company information or personal data. Samsung described the measure as temporary while it developed security controls for workplace use (TechCrunch).
During the restricted period, Samsung directed employees toward its internal Samsung Gauss system for some use cases. The later policy change therefore represents a move from primarily internal AI toward a governed mix of internal and approved external tools, not an abandonment of Gauss.
Outdated Drivers Are Slowing You Down
One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallRank #3
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
The first relaxation came in 2025
In May 2025, SamMobile reported that Samsung had lowered the threshold for ChatGPT access in parts of the Samsung Group (SamMobile). The reported change included:
- Access for employees at Samsung Electronics, Samsung Display and Samsung SDI.
- Use concentrated in departments working with AI technologies rather than teams primarily involved in product development.
- New procedures intended to prevent accidental disclosure.
- Continued use of Samsung Gauss for more restricted work.
- Tighter limits in semiconductor-related operations.
That was a reported, partial relaxation rather than a published, group-wide policy. Separate coverage said the semiconductor division remained more restrictive (BusinessKorea).
Rank #4
- YOUR CONTENT, SUPER SMOOTH: The ultra-clear 6.7" FHD+ Super AMOLED display of Galaxy A17 5G helps bring your content to life, whether you're scrolling through recipes or video chatting with loved ones.¹
- LIVE FAST. CHARGE FASTER: Focus more on the moment and less on your battery percentage with Galaxy A17 5G. Super Fast Charging powers up your battery so you can get back to life sooner.²
- MEMORIES MADE PICTURE PERFECT: Capture every angle in stunning clarity, from wide family photos to close-ups of friends, with the triple-lens camera on Galaxy A17 5G.
- NEED MORE STORAGE? WE HAVE YOU COVERED: With an improved 2TB of expandable storage, Galaxy A17 5G makes it easy to keep cherished photos, videos and important files readily accessible whenever you need them.³
- BUILT TO LAST: With an improved IP54 rating, Galaxy A17 5G is even more durable than before.⁴ It’s built to resist splashes and dust and comes with a stronger yet slimmer Gorilla Glass Victus front and Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer back.
Why the 2026 arrangement is different from consumer ChatGPT
The new deployment is based on managed workplace products, not employees using personal accounts at their own discretion. OpenAI says its enterprise offerings provide centralized administration and identity controls, while the enterprise privacy policy says customer data is not used to train models by default unless the customer opts in (OpenAI’s enterprise privacy information).
Controls an enterprise deployment can provide
- SAML single sign-on and administrator-managed user access.
- Retention settings for Enterprise workspaces.
- Customer ownership and control of business data.
- SOC 2 Type 2 compliance and restricted access by authorized OpenAI personnel for specified support, security or legal purposes.
- Deletion of Enterprise conversations generally within 30 days, subject to legal or security exceptions.
Those are OpenAI’s stated product commitments, not proof that Samsung has enabled every available setting. Samsung’s own identity management, data-loss-prevention tools, retention rules, approvals and employee training determine how the service behaves in practice.
Recommended Free Tools
Best Value
- TYPE IT IN. TRANSFORM IT FAST: Enhance any shot in seconds on your smartphone by using Photo Assist¹ with Galaxy AI.² Add objects, restore details, or apply new styles by simply typing or tapping
- MAKE IT. EDIT IT. SHARE IT: Turn everyday moments into something personal with creative tools built right into your mobile whether it’s a special contact photo, custom wallpaper, an invitation or more³
- FAST. POWERFUL. AI-READY: Power through your day with AI-accelerated performance from our fastest, smoothest and most powerful Galaxy processor yet, built to keep up with everything you do
- IMMENSELY IMMERSIVE: No matter where you are or what you’re watching, your favorite videos and more come to life with the vibrant display on Galaxy S26
- FIT EVERYONE IN THE SHOT: Group selfies are easier on your Samsung phone with a wider front camera⁴ that captures more of the scene, so no one gets left out of the moment
Why Samsung reversed course
Productivity and AI transformation
Generative AI can assist with coding, research, document creation, analysis, marketing and manufacturing workflows. Yonhap and OpenAI described the rollout as part of Samsung’s broader effort to apply AI across its value chain (Yonhap; OpenAI).
Governance instead of a blanket block
A total ban reduces exposure to public tools but can also limit legitimate work and encourage “shadow AI,” in which employees move tasks to unapproved services. Enterprise workspaces offer a way to authenticate users, set permissions and monitor use while keeping sensitive divisions under stricter rules. That improves governance; it does not eliminate the underlying risk.
What the enterprise controls do not solve
- Prompt leakage: An employee can still paste source code, trade secrets, customer records or personal information into an approved workspace.
- Wrong account: A personal ChatGPT account bypasses Samsung’s enterprise controls.
- Over-permissioned connectors: An assistant linked to internal systems may expose more material than the user should access.
- Unreviewed output: Generated code can contain security defects, licensing problems or factual errors.
- Retention confusion: Deleting a chat does not necessarily erase logs, exports, backups or copies immediately.
- Policy mismatch: A tool approved for one country, division or data category may be prohibited for another.
Information that should remain off-limits
As general enterprise-AI practice—not a published list of Samsung’s internal rules—employees should keep the following out of prompts unless a specific policy expressly permits them:
- Unreleased product specifications, semiconductor designs, source code, yield data and manufacturing recipes.
- Trade secrets, patent-sensitive research and material covered by nondisclosure agreements.
- Customer or employee personal data.
- Credentials, access tokens, private keys and security logs.
- Export-controlled, classified or otherwise regulated information.
- Confidential meeting recordings or transcripts.
- Attorney-client privileged material.
What other companies can learn from Samsung
- Restrict public AI tools quickly when controls are immature and sensitive data is at risk.
- Provide an approved alternative so employees do not resort to shadow AI.
- Adopt enterprise identity, access, retention and audit controls before broadening use.
- Train employees on prohibited data and verify that training is completed.
- Use least-privilege permissions for connectors and internal knowledge sources.
- Keep higher-risk divisions, customers and jurisdictions under separate approval rules.
- Review generated code, documents and analysis just as rigorously as human-produced work.
Bottom line on Samsung’s “ChatGPT ban”
Samsung moved from a broad external-AI restriction after the 2023 disclosures to controlled enterprise adoption. The 2025 relaxation was partial and reported; the June 2026 ChatGPT Enterprise and Codex deployment is a more formal step. Public evidence supports access for Samsung Electronics employees in South Korea and DX employees worldwide, with continuing limits in semiconductor operations—not unrestricted ChatGPT access for every Samsung employee.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
