AsianFin — OpenAI CEO Sam Altman recently addressed the need for a legal framework around artificial intelligence during a podcast discussion on AI and regulation. He emphasized that, at present, user conversations with ChatGPT do not enjoy legal confidentiality protections.
“People share their most private thoughts with ChatGPT,” Altman said. “Many, especially younger users, turn to it as a counselor or life coach, asking for advice on relationship problems or personal issues. However, unlike conversations with therapists, lawyers, or doctors—which are legally protected by confidentiality agreements—chatting with ChatGPT has no such privacy safeguards.”
Altman warned that this gap could raise privacy concerns in legal proceedings, as OpenAI is currently obligated to provide conversation records under the law. “I think this is very problematic. Conversations with AI should have the same privacy protections as those with therapists, yet this issue wasn’t even on anyone’s radar a year ago,” he added.
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