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Thousands of private ChatGPT conversations were unexpectedly showing up in Google search results due to the chatbot’s “Share” feature, which has since been removed after facing criticism. According to a recent report by Fast Company, nearly 4,500 ChatGPT conversations were found on Google, covering personal topics like mental health issues and relationships. Fortunately, the identities of the users were not disclosed in these public conversations.
How did these private conversations become public? Previously, ChatGPT users had the option to share their chats by generating a public link that could be sent to others. Users could also choose to make their conversations “discoverable,” even by Google, without realizing the consequences. By checking a box labeled “Make this chat discoverable,” users unknowingly allowed Google to index their conversations and display them in search results.
Following the Fast Company report, OpenAI decided to remove the feature, deeming it a “short-lived experiment.” The Chief Information Security Officer, Dane Stuckey, explained how the feature worked and why it led to unintended consequences.
Despite users having to opt in for their chats to be made public, OpenAI acknowledged the potential for user error and decided to take action. It’s worth noting that OpenAI is obligated to store user conversations, including deleted ones, due to a lawsuit from the New York Times. However, this requirement does not apply to ChatGPT Enterprise or ChatGPT Edu customers.
In light of these developments, users can use a “Temporary Chat” feature similar to incognito mode to protect their chat data, although some information may still be retained. Additionally, it’s important to be aware of the ongoing legal issues involving OpenAI and its AI systems.
Topics: Google, ChatGPT, OpenAI
