OpenAI rolls back new ChatGPT feature just hours after launch, top exec says: We removed a feature from ChatGPT app that allowed users to ...

OpenAI has removed its newly introduced feature from its popular chatbot

ChatGPT

app within hours of its launch. OpenAI decided to remove the feature after receiving backlash over potential privacy risk. The newly launched feature enabled users to search the web directly from within ChatGPT, but soon concerns around it surfaced online as the feature could inadvertently expose sensitive information to search engines. As reported by Business Insider, the new feature was intended to provide a more seamless way for users to integrate real-time web information into their conversations with ChatGPT. However, a wave of social media posts from users and privacy advocates highlighted that the feature's implementation could inadvertently expose user queries or data to third-party search engines without their consent.

OpenAI rolls back new ChatGPT feature over privacy concerns

We just removed a feature from @ChatGPTapp that allowed users to make their conversations discoverable by search engines, such as Google,"

Dane Stuckey

, OpenAI's chief information security officer. The feature was designed to enhance ChatGPT’s utility by integrating real-time search capabilities, but critics warned that it might leak user queries or personal data to external platforms without adequate safeguards.

Describing it as a short-lived experiment, Stuckey said that the opt-in feature was designed to help people discover some helpful conversations. However, the company removed it because of security and

privacy concerns

.

Read OpenAI's chief information security officer Dane Stuckey’s complete post here

We just removed a feature from @ChatGPTapp that allowed users to make their conversations discoverable by search engines, such as Google. This was a short-lived experiment to help people discover useful conversations. This feature required users to opt-in, first by picking a chat to share, then by clicking a checkbox for it to be shared with search engines (see below).Ultimately we think this feature introduced too many opportunities for folks to accidentally share things they didn't intend to, so we're removing the option. We're also working to remove indexed content from the relevant search engines. This change is rolling out to all users through tomorrow morning.Security and privacy are paramount for us, and we'll keep working to maximally reflect that in our products and features.