ChatGPT Discontinues Google Indexing for Private Chats Following Public Criticism
In response to growing concerns regarding the public availability of private conversations on its platform, OpenAI has taken proactive measures to address the issue. As of August 1st, the technology company has removed all chats from Google search results and disabled the feature that enabled users to make their discussions discoverable via a shareable link. A search on site:chatgpt.com/share now yields no results.
It is important to note that while this change has been implemented on Google, the chats continue to appear in other search engines such as Bing and DuckDuckGo due to the feature still being rolled out to all users, according to OpenAI’s Chief Information Security Officer, Dan Stuckey.
In an interview, Stuckey explained that this decision was made due to concerns over unintentional sharing of sensitive information. He further stated that OpenAI is working diligently to remove indexed content from relevant search engines. An OpenAI spokesperson confirmed that the experiment has been discontinued.
Previously, users could inadvertently make their private conversations public by pressing a button within ChatGPT that created a link to a specific conversation. These links, which did not include personal account details, could potentially be identified and searched based on unique phrases or names used within the chat.
OpenAI’s Shared Links FAQ advises users to manually enable the link to be indexed by search engines when sharing conversations. However, the small checkbox labeled “Make this chat discoverable” may have led some to mistakenly believe it was a required setting. In smaller print below the box, it reads, “Allows it to be shown in web searches.”
Users concerned about links they’ve shared on ChatGPT becoming public can edit or delete them as needed. Deleting one’s ChatGPT account will also result in the removal of all shared links. A Google spokesperson has confirmed that OpenAI is responsible for publishing results to search engines, and search engines are not initiating this behavior.
While some may find the searchability of conversations unimportant, particularly those utilizing throwaway accounts or seeking engagement with like-minded web users, it is important for those who wish to maintain privacy to exercise caution when sharing their chats. As Sam Altman, OpenAI’s CEO, stated in a recent interview, people often discuss personal and sensitive topics with ChatGPT, making privacy a significant concern.
Moreover, OpenAI is legally obligated to retain and share personal chats in the event of a lawsuit, which could potentially lead to these conversations being used as evidence in court. The potential implications for businesses, particularly those focused on Search Engine Optimization (SEO), are substantial, as these conversations offer insights into audience struggles and preferences.
In light of these developments, it is crucial for both users and technology companies to prioritize privacy and transparency in the use and sharing of AI-powered platforms like ChatGPT. By doing so, we can ensure that the benefits of these tools are fully realized while minimizing potential risks and concerns.
