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Private data is a significant concern as OpenAI has introduced its latest and most advanced artificial intelligence model, GPT-4o, which powers Chat GPT. This new version can not only solve equations and tell bedtime stories, but it also claims to be capable of identifying emotions from facial expressions! But what does this mean for the privacy of users’ information?

 

More intelligence, Less privacy for Private Data?

With the enhanced capabilities of GPT-4o, experts warn that this could increase the amount of private data that OpenAI collects. This has raised concerns about how secure our information is when we interact with Chat GPT.

 

OpenAI’s History: Can you Trust Them with your Data?

OpenAI does not have the cleanest record regarding privacy. After the launch of its previous model in 2020, it was revealed that millions of web pages, including Reddit posts and books, were used to train its systems. This included private data that users had shared online, which even led to Chat GPT being temporarily banned in Italy.

 

Security failures and exposure of Private Data in the past

GPT-4o has been subject to several concerning incidents. Shortly after its launch, a demonstration of the Chat GPT app for macOS showed that the chatbot could access the user’s screen, raising doubts about the security of private data. In July, the app faced criticism again when it was discovered that it was possible to access stored chats in plain text on users’ computers, thus exposing sensitive information. Although OpenAI quickly released an update to encrypt chats, such incidents have raised even more questions about data security.

 

What does the Privacy Policy of Chat GPT say?

Upon reviewing OpenAI’s privacy policy, it becomes clear that they collect a wide range of information, including usage data and content provided while using Chat GPT. The company claims that this information is used to train its models unless users disable it in the settings or use the enterprise version.

 

Are your Private Data really anonymized?

OpenAI asserts that individual data is anonymized, but experts like Angus Allan argue that the policy seems more like “collect everything now and sort it later.” A vast amount of user information is collected, including names, images, and voice data, which may include sensitive details.

 

Chat GPT: A Vacuum for User Data?

By default, Chat GPT collects a substantial amount of information, ranging from email addresses to geolocation and network activity. According to Jules Love of Spark, this data can also be shared with affiliates and vendors, raising concerns about where it really ends up.

 

What Are the Privacy Controls Available?

Despite criticism, OpenAI has improved its tools to protect users’ privacy. It is now possible to block certain types of data collection and disable the use of your interactions for training future AI models, thereby protecting your information.

 

Is it Time to take Control of your Data?

If you are concerned about privacy, it is advisable to adjust your Chat GPT settings as soon as possible. While you cannot remove all the content you have shared, you can prevent it from being used for training future models. Every little action counts in keeping your information secure!