You probably tell an artificial intelligence chatbot things you would never post publicly. Maybe you ask about a health concern. Perhaps you need help sorting through a financial decision or dealing with something happening at work. Because the conversation feels one-on-one, it can be easy to forget how personal it has become.
Now, AI companies are giving their assistants more ways to remember what you tell them. In some cases, AI can also draw from activity beyond a single conversation. That raises a bigger . What happens when an AI assistant can build a more detailed understanding of you over time?
The answer depends on the service you use and the settings you choose. Your information may help personalize future responses. In some cases, your AI activity can also influence recommendations or advertising.
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For years, one of the biggest AI privacy questions has been whether companies use your conversations to train future models. That still matters. However, training is only part of the picture. AI assistants can use memory to personalize future conversations. Some can draw context from connected services. Others can use certain AI interactions to help decide what content or ads you see.
So, turning off model training does not necessarily turn off memory or every form of personalization. For example, OpenAI has separate controls for model training, memory and advertising personalization. Meta also has its own rules about how interactions with Meta AI can influence content and ads.
We have previously covered the with AI tools. As these assistants learn more about us, being selective about what you share becomes even more important. The more information an AI service can connect about you, the more personalized it can become. That can be useful. It can also create a much more detailed digital picture of your interests, routines and concerns.
OpenAI added Computer History to the ChatGPT desktop app for macOS on Aug. 13. The optional feature lets ChatGPT and Codex use selected activity from apps and websites as context. Instead of capturing screenshots or screen recordings, OpenAI says Computer History records interaction events. It also excludes private browsing.
However, Computer History isnt available to every ChatGPT user. OpenAI currently offers it to Pro, Business and Enterprise users. Business and Enterprise administrators must enable access before individual members can choose to turn it on. The feature is off by default.ââ
You can decide which apps and websites contribute information. You can also pause collection, inspect your timeline and delete history. Computer History requires Memories to work.
There are some privacy details worth knowing. OpenAI says temporary interaction-event files remain on your Mac for up to 48 hours. The company processes those events on its servers to generate memories. It says it