OpenAI Retracts Searchable ChatGPT Feature Amid Privacy Concerns
OpenAI retracts a ChatGPT feature allowing public conversation sharing after privacy breaches.
Key Points
- • OpenAI has disabled a feature allowing shared ChatGPT conversations to be indexed by search engines.
- • Over 4,500 shared chats were indexed, some containing sensitive material.
- • Privacy concerns led to the decision to retract the feature, described as a 'short-lived experiment.'
- • Users are encouraged to manage their visibility settings via the ChatGPT Shared Links dashboard.
OpenAI has announced the removal of a controversial feature that allowed users to make ChatGPT conversations publicly searchable on the internet. This decision comes in response to significant privacy concerns, as thousands of private conversations were inadvertently indexed by search engines, including Google. Reports indicated that over 4,500 links to shared ChatGPT conversations were found online, some of which contained sensitive information such as personal names, resumes, and confidential work matters.
On August 1, 2025, OpenAI clarified that the feature, initially introduced as a means to help users find useful conversations, turned out to create serious risks for users who might unintentionally expose their private dialogues. Dane Stuckey, OpenAI's chief information security officer, emphasized on social media that this feature was merely a "short-lived experiment" that ultimately posed too many risks of accidental oversharing. This sentiment was echoed by several users, including newsletter writer Luiza Jarovsky, who had highlighted specific instances where sensitive discussions made their way into the public sphere, potentially leading to embarrassment for those involved.
In a bid to rectify the situation, OpenAI has disabled the discoverability toggle, which required users to opt-in to share their chats publicly. The company is now focused on removing any existing indexed content from search engines, although previously cached data may still be accessible temporarily. OpenAI has advised users to review their visibility settings and manage their shared links through the ChatGPT Shared Links dashboard, as deleting a conversation from their history does not erase the public link or its indexing status.
As calls for stricter privacy measures grow, OpenAI is reassessing how public sharing features are integrated into ChatGPT, reaffirming its commitment to user security and privacy.