Your ChatGPT chats may have leaked on Google: Here's what happened
When you click 'Share' in ChatGPT, it creates a public link that anyone can open. The link doesn't have your name on it, but the content is fair game. And if your conversation includes a name, email address, company details or location, that identifying information could be out there for anyone to see.Even if you delete a shared link, it might still be visible on Google for a while, thanks to cached pages and the time it takes for search engines to refresh their index.As Fast Company points out, 'some contain personal, sensitive, or even confidential information' that people may have assumed was private. This could be one of the reasons why OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who manufactured this AI chatbot, warned everyone about sharing intricate personal details with ChatGPT. The risks can vary. Since, users have been using ChatGPT as a journal and asking all sorts of questions, for mere artificial assurance, this leak can lead to severe data exposure. For instance, users talking openly about mental health, relationships, or trauma might find those conversations searchable. Companies experimenting with ChatGPT for product ideas or marketing copy could inadvertently spill secrets. Moreover, if a chat includes your name or company, it might show up even after you think you've taken it down.What can be done? Don't panic – but do get cautious. First, avoid sharing sensitive information in any ChatGPT conversation that could be made public. Think of it the way you would an email: once it's online, you lose control of it.Second, think twice before using the 'Share' button. If you really must share something from ChatGPT, copy and paste the text or use a screenshot instead.OpenAI also lets you manage and delete your shared links from the Shared Links dashboard inside ChatGPT. That said, it doesn't guarantee that Google or other search engines will remove it instantly.If you're worried that you might have already shared something a little too personal, you can check what's visible by searching for 'site:chatgpt.com/share' along with your name or topic.advertisementThis little mishap is a reminder that even though AI tools may feel like private notebooks, they are designed to behave more like cloud documents. It is a wake-up call for big tech and part of a broader shift in how we think about AI and privacy. So next time you find yourself crafting prompts late at night about heartbreak, business strategies, or your new idea for a novel, ask yourself, do you really want it turning up in Google search? The internet, as they say, never forgets.- Ends
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