Recently, there have been reports that conversations on ChatGPT might be indexed by search engines, leading to the accidental leakage of private information. This mainly occurs when users actively share their conversations, and the links get indexed by Google and other search engines. By filtering the search results to include only links from "https://chatgpt.com/share," we can see various interactions between strangers and ChatGPT, ranging from asking for help to renovate a bathroom to getting assistance with job resume modifications.
Although many shared conversations seem boring, some have unexpectedly become interesting. For example, one user asked if it was possible to heat a metal fork in a microwave, and ChatGPT clearly said "no." However, the user continued to ask increasingly absurd questions, eventually asking the AI to create a guide on "how to use a microwave without summoning Satan."
It should be noted that ChatGPT does not default to making users' conversation records public. Only when users actively click "Share" and create a link will the chat records potentially be made public. OpenAI stated: "Unless you choose to share, these records are private." However, this sharing behavior is not widely understood, and many people may not realize that the links they share could be indexed by search engines, resulting in privacy leaks.
In response, OpenAI has recently decided to remove this feature, calling it a short-term experiment and stating that it will strengthen user privacy protection in the future. Search engines like Google have some control over what content gets indexed, but the final decision lies with the publisher themselves. An OpenAI spokesperson clearly stated: "We have always been looking for better ways to share while ensuring users maintain control over their content."
This incident reminds us that online privacy issues still exist. Even when we believe the content we share is safe, we should remain vigilant about potential information leaks.