OpenAI Removes ChatGPT Conversations from Google Search Amid Privacy Concerns

OpenAI has swiftly moved to eliminate shared ChatGPT conversations from Google search results following a wave of user backlash. The controversy emerged after Fast Company revealed thousands of indexed chats—many containing personal details—were publicly accessible through search engines. The exposure stemmed from an opt-in feature labeled "Make this chat discoverable," which allowed users to generate shareable links without fully grasping the privacy implications.

Dane Stuckey, OpenAI's Chief Information Security Officer, characterized the feature as a "short-lived experiment." The company is now scrubbing these conversations from search visibility as it prepares to launch its own data-centric web browser. This incident underscores the delicate balance between innovation and user privacy in the AI era.