Altman warned that OpenAI could be compelled to hand over user chat logs if required by law.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has warned that people using ChatGPT as a substitute for therapy may be exposing their most private thoughts without legal protection.
“People talk about the most personal s**t in their lives to ChatGPT,” Altman said on This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von. “Young people, especially, use it as a therapist, a life coach… and we haven’t figured that out yet for when you talk to ChatGPT.”
Unlike licensed therapists, ChatGPT is not covered by HIPAA protections. Altman admitted that if pressured by law, OpenAI could be compelled to release user chat logs.
“I think we should have the same concept of privacy for your conversations with AI that we do with a therapist,” he said.
The warning comes as experts caution against relying on generative AI for mental health, citing risks of privacy breaches and immature technology.