On July 25, 2025, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman issued a clear warning about privacy concerns when using ChatGPT for therapy or emotional support. He pointed out that conversations with the AI do not have legal confidentiality protections like those between patients and licensed therapists or doctors. Altman noted that many users, especially younger people, rely on ChatGPT for personal advice, but these interactions can be accessed by OpenAI and potentially used in legal cases.
This issue gained attention following a lawsuit from The New York Times demanding OpenAI keep all user conversations indefinitely, even those deleted by users. OpenAI is appealing the court’s order, arguing it threatens user privacy. Altman called for new legal protections—what he refers to as “AI privilege”—to ensure that conversations with AI receive the same confidentiality as those with human professionals.
As artificial intelligence plays a larger role in sensitive areas of life, the need for clear privacy rules is becoming urgent. Altman’s remarks highlight the challenges of protecting user data while AI services grow in importance.
