OpenAI pulls searchable chats from ChatGPT

OpenAI has removed a feature that allowed users to make their ChatGPT conversations publicly searchable, following backlash over accidental exposure of sensitive content.

Dane Stuckey, OpenAI’s CISO, confirmed the rollback on Thursday, describing it as a short-lived experiment meant to help users find helpful conversations. However, he acknowledged that the feature posed privacy risks.

‘Ultimately, we think this feature introduced too many opportunities for folks to accidentally share things they didn’t intend to,’ Stuckey wrote in a post on X. He added that OpenAI is working to remove any indexed content from search engines.

The move came swiftly after Fast Company and privacy advocate Luiza Jarovsky reported that some shared conversations were appearing in Google search results.

Jarovsky posted examples on X, noting that even though the chats were anonymised, users were unknowingly revealing personal experiences, including harassment and mental health struggles.

To activate the feature, users had to tick a box allowing their chat to be discoverable. While the process required active steps, critics warned that some users might opt in without fully understanding the consequences. Stuckey said the rollback will be complete by Friday morning.

The incident adds to growing concerns around AI and user privacy, particularly as conversational platforms like ChatGPT become more embedded in everyday life.

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