OpenAI has decided to remove a feature that allowed shared ChatGPT conversations to appear in search engine results. This change comes after some users raised concerns about privacy. The feature was part of a test that let users create shareable links for their chats.
The issue gained attention after a report, which found that many ChatGPT chats were showing up in Google search results. While these chats didn’t include names or direct personal details, some content could still hint at who wrote them.
This situation wasn’t caused by a hack or data leak. Instead, it involved a setting users could choose when making a chat public. When sharing a chat, users were given an option to “Make this chat discoverable,” which allowed it to appear in web searches. The explanation for this option was written in smaller text below the checkbox.
Many users may not have realized their chats would be searchable online, especially if they shared the links only with friends or saved them for personal use. After hearing these concerns, OpenAI removed the public discoverability setting.
Dane Stuckey, OpenAI’s Chief Information Security Officer, initially said the labeling of the feature was clear enough. However, the company later agreed that it might lead to accidental sharing. “We think this feature introduced too many opportunities for folks to accidentally share things they didn’t intend to, so we’re removing the option,” Stuckey said.
Now, shared chats can still be sent using links, but they won’t show up in search engines.