IT之家 October 21 news: OpenAI announced on local Tuesday that users can now lock ChatGPT conversations. This feature can protect the privacy of sensitive conversations when others might see the screen or use the user's device. Users can set a four-digit PIN code to protect locked conversations, and on supported devices can also use Face ID or Touch ID.
According to IT之家, this feature differs from the in-app temporary chats: temporary chats are standalone sessions that do not appear in chat history, while locked conversations can be reviewed by users at any time.
OpenAI said the feature targets scenarios like this: a user discussing private matters or planning a surprise needs to protect the relevant conversation, then hand the device over to family or friends to show them content from other conversations.
As more and more people use ChatGPT for private exchanges, the locked conversations feature adds a new layer of privacy protection. Of course, while locked conversations can restrict others' access, they do not address users' concerns about how sensitive information is stored and processed.
OpenAI explained that locked conversations do not enable end-to-end encryption and do not generate an independent encrypted storage vault; they do not change how long conversation data is retained, do not clear information ChatGPT has already remembered before locking, and do not alter the "help improve models" setting.
After a user locks a conversation, it moves into a dedicated "Locked conversations" section, isolated from regular chat history, pinned conversations, and chat search results.
If the memory feature is enabled, the locked conversations section has an independent memory space, shared only among conversations within the section. New messages sent after locking can update this independent memory, but will not change the general memory. That is, new information produced in locked conversations will not leak into regular conversations.
OpenAI cautioned that resetting the PIN code will permanently delete all locked conversations, files, and other content protected by the old PIN.
In addition, temporary chats, archived chats, group chats, chats created via shared links, chats with scheduled tasks, and chats containing meeting recordings cannot use the locked conversations feature.
The locked conversations feature is available to ChatGPT Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise, and Education users. The feature is not available for ChatGPT Health. It began rolling out in batches starting local Tuesday, and not all users can use it immediately.