Tuesday, August 12, 2025

OpenAI Suspends ChatGPT Search Sharing Feature Due to Privacy Issues

OpenAI has permanently removed a controversial feature that allowed users to make their ChatGPT conversations publicly searchable on platforms like Google. Launched as an optional tool for sharing valuable interactions, the feature led to unintended privacy breaches, exposing sensitive user information online. Despite an opt-in process requiring users to select a chat and check a box, many inadvertently shared personal data like names and locations. OpenAI’s Chief Information Security Officer, Dane Stuckey, emphasized that the risks of accidental oversharing outweighed the benefits. With over 4,500 chats visible in search results, the company recognized the need to protect user trust. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman noted that users treat ChatGPT as a confidante, making the sharing feature inherently risky. The removal of this option reflects OpenAI’s commitment to prioritizing user privacy and trust while coordinating with search engines to eliminate previously indexed chats. This marks the end of an ill-fated experiment in making AI content discoverable online.

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