OpenAI has made several updates to its popular language model, ChatGPT, to address user concerns regarding privacy and data sharing. One of the significant changes is that ChatGPT now saves chat history, even if users have opted out of sharing their data to train the model. This update is available for both ChatGPT Free and ChatGPT Plus users on desktop, with mobile support coming soon.
Previously, if users chose not to share their chat history with OpenAI, their conversations would not be saved. However, this posed a challenge for users who wanted to keep their data private while still benefiting from the full functionality of the app. OpenAI recognized the need for a better solution and introduced a toggle setting that allows users to save their chat history even if they have opted out of sharing their data.
The introduction of this toggle setting is a welcome improvement for privacy-minded individuals. OpenAI understands that some users may have reservations about sharing their personal or confidential information, and this update ensures that their data remains private while still allowing them to utilize the app’s features.
In addition to the chat history update, OpenAI also introduced a Temporary Chat option, similar to an incognito mode, which doesn’t save conversations in the chat history. This feature provides an extra layer of privacy for users who want their conversations to be completely ephemeral and not leave any trace.
The need for enhanced privacy measures became evident when Samsung faced a data leak incident last April. Some of its employees inadvertently revealed sensitive trade secrets when using ChatGPT to check code and draft presentations. OpenAI’s new privacy features address these concerns and offer users peace of mind when interacting with the language model.
OpenAI has been actively working on improving ChatGPT’s privacy features and functionality. They initially deployed an opt-out setting, allowing users to choose whether to share their data with the model. Later, they introduced ChatGPT Enterprise, a closed-loop version specifically designed for businesses that doesn’t share data with the model.
Moreover, OpenAI has recently announced the widespread rollout of the Memory feature for ChatGPT Plus users. With Memory turned on, ChatGPT can remember specific details from previous conversations, such as the names and ages of one’s children. This feature aims to provide a more personalized and context-aware experience for users. However, OpenAI acknowledges that this level of memory retention may raise concerns for some users, and therefore, allows them to toggle off the Memory feature or selectively delete specific “memories” that they don’t want ChatGPT to retain.
Overall, OpenAI’s updates to ChatGPT demonstrate their commitment to addressing user privacy concerns. By offering options to save chat history, introducing a Temporary Chat mode, and providing granular control over memory retention, OpenAI empowers users to tailor their experience with the language model according to their privacy preferences. These updates not only enhance user privacy but also contribute to the ongoing conversation about responsible AI development and usage.
