Source: Mashable

Mashable reports on recent comments made by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, who issued a strong warning against the practice of using ChatGPT as a substitute for therapy. During an appearance on a podcast, Altman emphasized that conversations with the AI chatbot are not subject to any form of legal privilege or confidentiality, unlike sessions with a licensed human therapist. He explicitly stated that users should assume their conversations are not private and that the information they share could potentially be accessed by the company or even used as evidence in legal proceedings.

Altman described the trend of people turning to AI for mental health support as a "bad idea," highlighting the fundamental lack of a protected, confidential relationship. His cautionary words aim to dispel a common misconception among users who may treat the AI as a private confidant. The article underscores the critical distinction between the data privacy policies of a technology company and the legally and ethically binding confidentiality agreements that govern the medical and therapeutic professions. This serves as a crucial reminder of the privacy risks inherent in sharing sensitive personal information with large language models.