- OpenAI launched a locked chats feature to secure sensitive conversations.
- Users can lock individual chats using a PIN, fingerprint scan, or Face ID.
- Protected conversations are completely hidden from the in-app search history.
Protecting Sensitive Conversations on Shared Devices
OpenAI has introduced a dedicated locked chats privacy feature designed to shield sensitive interactions within ChatGPT. The tool addresses everyday scenarios where users need to hand over their unlocked device to friends, family members, or coworkers-such as sharing a specific query or result-without exposing other personal discussions.
According to the company, this update is intended for situations involving personal matters or planning surprises where confidentiality is paramount.
Authentication Methods and Search Concealment
The new protection layer supports multiple authentication options depending on device compatibility:
- PIN Code: A numerical code securing individual conversations;
- Face ID: Facial recognition on compatible mobile hardware;
- Fingerprint Authentication: Biometric scanning via integrated sensors.
Beyond locking access, secured conversations are automatically excluded from the standard conversation search, preventing accidental discovery while browsing past dialogs.
This privacy enhancement arrives amidst rapid ecosystem developments across the industry, where companies advance AI tools like Anthropic’s Claude Duet to rival OpenAI and Meta.
ChatGPT users gain greater control over local device privacy, ensuring confidential dialogs stay protected by biometric verification or a PIN even when another person is actively viewing the screen.
A local PIN or Face ID offers a nice layer of convenience, but it feels like a superficial fix. It stops someone glancing at your phone, yet it doesn’t change how that data is stored or processed on OpenAI’s servers. True privacy requires client-side encryption, not just an app-level lock screen.