Sam Altman Highlights Trust Risks with ChatGPT

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman stated in the podcast This Past Weekend that personal conversations with ChatGPT are not legally protected. According to him, if necessary, a court can request all the information users have shared with the chatbot. 

“Your conversations with a therapist, lawyer, or doctor are protected by privacy law. We have yet to develop similar norms for interactions with ChatGPT,” Altman said. 

If a user discusses something “very personal” with the chatbot, OpenAI may provide all data to law enforcement upon request. 

“This is why I sometimes hesitate to use certain AI services — you never know how much personal information to trust them with and whose hands this data might end up in,” he emphasized. 

Altman acknowledged that the lack of protection is a significant issue. He has discussed this with many politicians, all of whom agree that a legal framework ensuring confidentiality needs to be urgently developed. 

Another AI Concern 

The head of OpenAI warned that the spread of AI technologies could also enhance government surveillance. In his view, authorities will seek to control the use of artificial intelligence to prevent crimes. 

Altman stated he is willing to compromise on privacy for public safety. However, he fears that law enforcement agencies “might go too far.” 

Back in March, OpenAI, in partnership with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, discovered a link between loneliness and the use of ChatGPT. The organizations conducted two studies among 1,000 people.

In July, the company released a new universal AI agent in the chatbot. The product is capable of performing a wide range of computer tasks on behalf of the user.