OpenAI CEO warns of privacy risks in therapeutic use of ChatGPT
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has expressed concerns about users, particularly young people, relying on ChatGPT as a therapist or life coach without legal protections comparable to doctor-patient confidentiality. Altman stated that there is currently no legal or policy framework protecting the privacy of sensitive personal conversations with the AI system.
What happened
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, stated during a podcast interview that people, especially young people, use ChatGPT as a therapist or life coach to discuss intimate personal matters, relationship problems, and seek emotional support.
Altman expressed that there is currently no legal or policy framework protecting the privacy of these conversations with ChatGPT, unlike the confidentiality protections that exist between doctors and patients or lawyers and clients.
Reported impact
Altman warned that in legal proceedings, OpenAI could be compelled to disclose user conversations, creating risk for users who share sensitive personal information with the system.
Altman stated that the absence of privacy protections for AI conversations is 'completely wrong' and that AI conversations should have the same privacy considerations as conversations with psychologists.
Index analysis
The issue reflects a gap between how users treat ChatGPT as a confidential advisor and the lack of legal frameworks establishing such protections for AI-mediated conversations.
Governance controls
OpenAI has contested a court order in a lawsuit against the New York Times requesting the company preserve user chats for legal proceedings, excluding those of ChatGPT Enterprise customers.
Classification
Sources and evidence
This record was researched and written by the Index, based on the following original reporting.