OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has issued a stark warning that interactions with ChatGPT are not legally protected and could potentially be used in court. Speaking on comedian Theo Von’s podcast This Past Weekend, Altman highlighted how users, especially younger ones, frequently confide deeply personal matters to the AI tool, often treating it like a therapist or life coach. He emphasized that, unlike conversations with licensed professionals such as doctors or lawyers, exchanges with AI lack confidentiality protections under the law.
Altman expressed concern that people are unaware of the legal implications of sharing sensitive information with an AI chatbot. He pointed out that users are increasingly leaning on ChatGPT for emotional support and advice on serious personal issues, yet these interactions are not shielded by any form of legal privilege. This leaves users vulnerable in legal disputes where such conversations might be subpoenaed as evidence.
Currently, there is no established legal framework to protect the privacy of AI-generated dialogues. Altman underlined the disparity between traditional professional confidentiality and the current AI landscape, warning that courts may compel OpenAI to disclose user conversations if required. This gap in privacy regulation poses a growing risk as AI tools become more integrated into everyday life.
In light of these concerns, Altman called for urgent action to create legal standards that extend privacy protections to AI interactions. He argued that society must recognize these conversations as deserving the same level of confidentiality as those with therapists or lawyers. With AI rapidly becoming a confidant for millions, he believes now is the time to redefine how digital privacy should work in the age of artificial intelligence.
Source: The Guardian