OpenAI Introduces Locked Chats Feature for ChatGPT

Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, recently discussed the hacking incident involving OpenAI and the Australian government’s Medicare portal. During an interview, Lehane detailed the security breach from July and shared insights from OpenAI’s ongoing investigation. He also commented on a Fox News poll indicating that 71% of Americans oppose local AI data centers.

In response to privacy concerns, OpenAI has launched a new feature, Locked Chats. This allows users to safeguard their ChatGPT conversations using a PIN or biometric authentication.

How Locked Chats Work

Users can lock specific ChatGPT conversations to prevent them from appearing in regular chat history. These chats are relocated to a ‘Locked chats’ section under Projects, accessible only via a personal PIN. This feature is particularly useful for those who share devices and wish to keep certain discussions private.

Once a chat is locked, it loses access to any instructions or files from its original project. This functionality is available on various platforms, including web, iPhone, and Android apps. However, it is not available for ChatGPT for Healthcare users.

Setting Up Locked Chats

1. Log into ChatGPT and locate the desired conversation.
2. Access its menu and select ‘Lock chat.’
3. Create a four-digit PIN for the first time.
4. The conversation will move to ‘Locked chats.’

The feature gradually rolls out and may not be available to all users yet.

Using Biometric Authentication

Users can enable Face ID or Touch ID on iPhones, and similar features on Android devices, to access locked chats seamlessly:

• Open your profile in ChatGPT and navigate to Security and login settings.
• Enable biometric options where available.

Maintaining Privacy with Locked Chats

Locked Chats do not offer end-to-end encryption. Users should be aware that some personal data can still be present in ChatGPT’s memory. Also, shared links remain accessible unless manually revoked by the user.

While Locked Chats provide additional privacy controls, users should refrain from sharing sensitive information, such as passwords or Social Security numbers, due to potential privacy limitations.

For those using ChatGPT Business environments, existing organizational policies apply to conversation data, including those that are locked.

Changing or Resetting Your PIN

If users need to change their PIN without losing data:

1. Go to Security and login settings.
2. Follow steps to change your PIN.

If the PIN is forgotten, users must confirm deletion of all locked data to reset it. However, if remembered, changing it alone does not incur data loss.

Choosing Between Locked and Temporary Chats

OpenAI provides both Locked Chats for retaining conversations securely and Temporary Chats for one-off dialogues. Selecting between them depends on the user’s need for ongoing access and privacy controls.

Locked Chats offer a reliable option for ongoing private discussions, while Temporary Chats are best for information not needing long-term retention.

User Feedback and the Need for Greater Privacy

There is a call for stronger privacy guarantees, which could enhance trust in sharing personal information with ChatGPT. Whether OpenAI will develop more robust privacy features remains a subject of interest and anticipation.