ChatGPT Gets New Privacy Center: Manage Memory, Chats, Apps and Data Controls More Easily
OpenAI is rolling out a new Privacy Center in ChatGPT, designed to make it easier for users to understand the privacy features available to them and find the settings that control how their information is handled.
ChatGPT already offers multiple privacy and personalization controls covering areas such as Memory, Temporary Chat, model improvement, connected apps and account security. However, understanding what each feature does and finding the relevant setting can sometimes be confusing.
The new Privacy Center addresses this by bringing explanations of major privacy features together in one location and providing links to the settings used to manage them.
Importantly, simply opening the Privacy Center does not automatically change existing privacy settings or delete chats or other account data. The actual controls continue to be managed through ChatGPT Settings.
OpenAI also notes that the privacy features available to an individual user can vary depending on factors including their plan, region, account type and workspace settings.
What Is ChatGPT's New Privacy Center?
The Privacy Center can be thought of as a central information hub for ChatGPT's privacy-related features.
Rather than replacing the existing Settings menu, it helps users understand what different privacy controls do and directs them to the appropriate settings when they want to make a change.
For example, users who want to understand how Memory works can find relevant privacy information before deciding whether they want to adjust their personalization settings.
Similarly, people who want more information about Temporary Chat, connected apps or the use of conversations for model improvement can find these topics through the Privacy Center.
Memory and Personalization Controls
Memory is one of the important areas covered by ChatGPT's privacy controls.
When enabled and applicable, Memory allows ChatGPT to use relevant information across conversations to make future responses more personalized.
Memory and chat history are not necessarily the same thing. This distinction is important when users are deciding what information they want ChatGPT to retain or reference.
Memory settings can be found under Settings > Personalization, while the Privacy Center helps explain how these features work.
Users who do not want a particular conversation to create or update memories can also consider using Temporary Chat under the applicable settings.
Temporary Chat Offers a More Private Conversation Mode
The Privacy Center also provides information about Temporary Chat.
Temporary chats work differently from ordinary saved conversations. While they remain temporary, they do not appear in normal chat history, do not create or update memories, and are not used to improve OpenAI's models.
OpenAI may retain a copy for up to 30 days for safety purposes.
Current versions of Temporary Chat can also provide personalization choices before the conversation starts. Depending on the selected option and account settings, an existing memory, custom instructions or plugins may be used without the temporary conversation itself creating new memories.
If a Temporary Chat is deliberately saved, however, it becomes a regular conversation and follows the account's normal personalization and model-improvement settings.
Users Can Control Whether Chats Help Improve Models
Another important privacy area involves the use of conversations for model improvement.
For eligible personal ChatGPT accounts, users can go to Settings > Data controls and manage the Improve the model for everyone setting.
If this setting is turned off, new conversations will not be used to train OpenAI's models. Turning it off does not automatically remove existing conversations from chat history.
OpenAI handles data from managed business and organizational accounts differently. For example, content from ChatGPT Business, Enterprise, Edu and ChatGPT for Healthcare workspaces is not used to train OpenAI models by default.
Connected Apps and Data Access Are Also Covered
Privacy considerations become particularly important when users connect external apps or services to ChatGPT.
The Privacy Center provides information that can help users understand connected-app access and where relevant controls can be found.
Users should review the permissions they grant when connecting an app and disconnect services they no longer want ChatGPT to access.
The exact functionality available can differ according to the connected service, account type and workspace policies.
What About Ads and Privacy?
Advertising controls may also be relevant for eligible users in regions and plans where ads are available.
OpenAI states that advertisers do not receive users' ChatGPT conversations, chat history, memories or personal details. User data is also not sold to advertisers.
Where ad personalization is available, eligible users can manage relevant settings through ChatGPT's ad controls.
The availability of advertising features and controls can vary according to plan and region.
How to Open Privacy Center on ChatGPT Web
Finding the new Privacy Center is straightforward.
On the web version of ChatGPT:
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Open the account menu.
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Select Help.
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Choose Privacy Center.
From there, users can learn about available privacy features and navigate toward the relevant settings when they want to make changes.
How to Find Privacy Center on iPhone and Android
The feature is also being introduced on mobile.
On iPhone or Android, open Settings and look for the Privacy Center option.
Because the feature is rolling out gradually, some users may receive it before others. Keeping the ChatGPT app updated can help ensure access when the feature becomes available for an account.
Who Can Access the New Privacy Center?
According to OpenAI's current release information, Privacy Center is rolling out to signed-in ChatGPT Free, Go, Plus and Pro users.
Availability and the specific controls displayed can differ depending on the user's region, plan and workspace configuration.
The biggest advantage of the Privacy Center is therefore not that ChatGPT has suddenly introduced an entirely new set of privacy controls. Instead, it gives users a more convenient place to understand existing controls covering areas such as chat privacy, Memory, personalization, data use, connected apps and account security.
For people who regularly use ChatGPT but have never explored its privacy settings, the new section could make it considerably easier to understand what information is being used and where available privacy preferences can be changed.