- There are signs that locked chats are coming to ChatGPT
- They would be hidden from most screens inside the app
- It’s not clear how they would work in terms of chat memory
OpenAI’s ChatGPT AI assistant continues to evolve and improve, and it looks as though the latest upgrade to the app may let you lock your most sensitive cuts behind a PIN code or fingerprint scan, to prevent anyone else from catching a glimpse of them.
This is based on hidden, not-yet-active code found in the latest version of ChatGPT for Android, spotted by Android Authority. There are references to “locked chats” and the ability to “protect chats” from prying eyes.
“Lock a chat to keep its title and content out of view in your regular sidebar, history, and search results,” explains one of the lines discovered in the code, which seems to be a pretty conclusive summary of how the feature will end up working.
ChatGPT already offers temporary chats for those conversations that are more personal and sensitive, and they’re instantly forgotten when you close them, disappearing from your ChatGPT account. These locked chats appear to be a little more permanent.
Keep it secret
There remain some questions about how locked chats might interact with the memory and recall features of ChatGPT. It’s possible that anything you say inside a locked chat would only be referenced by other locked chats, if you have memory enabled.
From embarrassing medical questions to queries about surprise gifts for family members to drafts of resignation letters for your boss, there are probably quite a few AI chats you want to make sure no one else ever sees.
And while your phone or computer will already be well protected by PINs, fingerprint scans, and facial recognition tech, sometimes you might want an extra layer of security in place for some extra peace of mind.
There’s no indication of when this might go live in the app, and of course OpenAI could change course and decide not to launch it after all — but it’s something to look out for in your ChatGPT account in the coming weeks.
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