OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has cautioned users that conversations with ChatGPT are not legally protected in the same way as communications with therapists, doctors, or lawyers. He revealed that chats with the AI tool could potentially be accessed or disclosed in legal or security proceedings, even if users delete them.
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Altman made the disclosure during an interview with comedian Theo Von on the This Past Weekend podcast, highlighting the growing trend of people, especially younger users, turning to ChatGPT for emotional support, therapy-like advice, and life guidance.
“People talk about the most personal stuff in their lives to ChatGPT,” Altman said. “Young people especially use it as a therapist, a life coach; having relationship problems and asking ‘what should I do?’” However, unlike traditional professionals, conversations with ChatGPT do not currently enjoy legal privilege or confidentiality protections such as doctor-patient or attorney-client confidentiality.
Altman explained, “If you go talk to ChatGPT about your most sensitive stuff and then there’s a lawsuit or whatever, we could be required to produce that, and I think that’s very screwed up.” He emphasized the urgent need to address this privacy gap and suggested that AI interactions should receive the same legal safeguards as those with human professionals.
Unlike end-to-end encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp or Signal, OpenAI has the ability to access user chats. Company employees sometimes review conversations to improve the AI or detect misuse. OpenAI states that deleted chats from Free, Plus, and Pro users are wiped within 30 days unless retained for legal or security reasons.
The issue has gained legal attention, with media outlets requesting courts to compel OpenAI to preserve all user chats, including deleted ones, in ongoing copyright litigation. OpenAI is appealing such court orders.
Altman concluded, “No one had to think about that even a year ago, and now it’s this huge issue of how we’re going to treat the laws around this.”
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