OpenAI Responds to Privacy Concerns Over ChatGPT Conversations Stored on Mac
OpenAI recently introduced a dedicated Mac app for ChatGPT, enabling users to experience the AI model seamlessly on their devices. However, a recent privacy issue has come to light regarding how the app stores conversations between users and ChatGPT.
A developer discovered that ChatGPT was saving these conversations in plain text format, making them easily accessible to anyone with simple access to the app data. This raised significant privacy concerns, especially considering Apple’s emphasis on privacy and security in their upcoming iOS 18 release.
Pedro José Pereira Vieito, the developer behind the discovery, highlighted the vulnerability by creating a straightforward app called ChatGPTStealer to demonstrate how easily conversations could be retrieved from outside the ChatGPT app. By simply changing the file name on his computer, Vieito could view the chat logs in plain text.
This loophole raised questions about why OpenAI chose not to utilize app sandbox protections, potentially exposing user conversations to unauthorized access. The ability for any background operation or app to intercept these chats posed a considerable risk to user privacy.
Upon being informed of the issue by The Verge, OpenAI swiftly responded by releasing an update that encrypts all conversations within the app. This encryption ensures that chats between users and ChatGPT are now secure and inaccessible to unauthorized parties.
The revelation of this privacy concern underscores the importance of robust data protection measures, especially in AI applications that involve sensitive user interactions. By implementing encryption, OpenAI has taken a step towards safeguarding user privacy and maintaining the trust of ChatGPT users on the Mac platform.
