Shared Chats Accidentally Found on Google
Some ChatGPT conversations were recently found on Google Search. This happened because of an experimental feature by OpenAI, which allowed users to share conversations using a link. If users searched with a specific filter like “site:chatgpt.com/share” on search engines, many shared chats could be seen.
The issue was first reported by Fast Company, which discovered over 4,500 such conversations online. While most did not include private details, some chats showed names, job applications, and even LinkedIn links. TechCrunch reported finding a user’s resume that ChatGPT helped rewrite, which could be connected to their real identity.
OpenAI Calls It an Experiment, Disables the Feature
OpenAI responded quickly. The company said this was part of an experiment and was only available to a limited number of users. The feature required users to manually create a link and agree to share it publicly. However, the risk of people accidentally sharing sensitive information was too high.
Dane Stuckey, OpenAI’s Chief Information Security Officer, said on X (formerly Twitter) that the feature was removed. He explained that privacy and safety are very important, and OpenAI is now working with search engines to remove already shared chats from search results.
OpenAI also shared a screenshot of the experimental feature’s interface, showing the option to opt in. But since many users may not have realized their chats were public, OpenAI decided to shut it down completely.
This is not the first time such an issue has happened. Meta AI also recently faced a similar problem where shared chats became public.
For now, OpenAI has confirmed that the sharing feature is no longer available. Users are advised to be careful when sharing any personal information with AI tools, even in private chats.
