Sears, although only five retail locations are still operational, continues to run an active Home Services division that includes an AI chatbot. However, this chatbot has allegedly exposed customer dialogues, according to WIRED. Security expert Jeremiah Fowler discovered three publicly available databases last month containing 3.7 million chat logs, 1.4 million audio recordings, and transcripts ranging from 2024 to the present year. The leaked information encompassed customer names, phone numbers, addresses, appliance specifications, and details about appointments.

The data has now been secured following Fowler’s notification to Transformco, the parent company of Sears and Sears Home Services. Transformco has not responded to WIRED’s inquiries for a statement.

One alarming detail from the report is the extensive audio files from customers who were under the impression that their interactions with the AI chatbot, Samantha, had concluded. Some recordings extended to four hours, capturing private discussions and background sounds without the customers’ awareness.

Fowler highlighted to WIRED the critical need for data security, asserting that businesses utilizing AI cannot afford to overlook this responsibility. At the time of this article’s publication, Transformco has not formally acknowledged the breach.