When you begin a conversation with ChatGPT, it’s unlikely you expect it to be found in a Google search, yet that’s what occurred for some users. TechCrunch reports that by filtering search engine results with “site:https://chatgpt.com/share,” one could locate real conversations with OpenAI’s bot—chats that were supposed to be private could be found as easily as recipes or tech tips.
Some of these discussions contained awkward or questionable content. TechCrunch identified a user seeking ChatGPT’s help with rewriting a resume for a particular job, which TechCrunch could infer from the chat. Another user posed questions that TechCrunch said resembled those from an “incel forum,” though specifics of this conversation weren’t disclosed.
OpenAI’s Experimental Feature
Before you worry, there are factors to consider. OpenAI has since removed the option to make chats public to search engines, and currently, new searches show no ChatGPT conversation results. Presently, your chats don’t risk exposure in this way. The chats in question were accessible on Google because users had deliberately opted for this feature. You would have had to click “share” on a chat, choose “create link,” acknowledge a notice that your name, chat instructions, and future messages stay private, and then toggle to make it searchable.
Some Chats Archived by the Wayback Machine
Afterwards, sleuths from Digital Digging found some shared chats were saved on the Wayback Machine, with 110,000 ChatGPT threads accessible. Despite OpenAI’s efforts to erase these from search engines, many remained viewable to those interested. As of Aug. 1, OpenAI hadn’t requested Wayback Machine to remove chatgpt.com/share URLs. However, as of Aug. 4, the Wayback Machine excludes this domain, suggesting OpenAI eventually requested it.
Why make this a feature? OpenAI told TechCrunch they were testing ways to easily share valuable conversations while keeping user control, and had finished experimenting with making chats searchable only if users opted in when sharing.
It’s clear why OpenAI might benefit. The more visibility ChatGPT has, the better for the company. As the web trends toward AI and forum-style answers, OpenAI likely saw a market opportunity. A shared conversation might help others, ranking high in search results alongside AI Overviews or relevant Reddit discussions.
OpenAI isn’t the only company exploring public AI conversations. In June, we learned Meta AI had a feature for posting user questions and responses—not to search, but to a public Meta AI feed. AI companies seem intent on publicizing AI-generated content, whether a chatbot conversation or AI-created artwork.
Chatbots Are Not Private
You can be relieved that your ChatGPT chats won’t hit Google’s front page, but don’t assume any bot chat is private. Likely, your bot’s owner uses chats to train models, or human reviewers may see them.
There are privacy settings for some bots. ChatGPT’s “Improve the model for everyone” setting determines if your chats train their model, though disabling it doesn’t prevent the company from storing them. Even temporary chats not appearing in your history remain on ChatGPT servers for up to 30 days.
Thus, avoid using chatbots for sensitive matters. OpenAI’s Sam Altman reminded about this: In an interview with Theo Von, Altman noted that many users, especially young ones, use ChatGPT as a therapist or life guide. Altman said: “If you talk to a therapist, lawyer, or doctor, there’s legal privilege for it… We haven’t figured that out for when you talk to ChatGPT.”