ChatGPT for Mac Fixes Privacy Concern That Stores Conversations in Plain Text

A few weeks after OpenAI brought ChatGPT for Mac, the company released a new fix that centers on privacy concerns raised by users where the chatbot stores conversations in plain text. Should this have been left potentially unchecked, anyone can easily access the conversations and data of a user, with many worried about its implications.

There have been massive concerns regarding ChatGPT and OpenAI's availability on iOS, iPadOS, and Mac, especially as users consider them privacy nightmares.

ChatGPT for Mac Fixes Privacy Concerns on Conversation Data

The latest from OpenAI's ChatGPT for Mac recently fixed an issue regarding a privacy concern that stores conversations in plain text, discovered in the newly-released app, according to 9to5Mac. This was a massive concern for users who saw what was happening, considering it was the first desktop application made for ChatGPT.

When it launched, OpenAI stressed the privacy and security of users who would utilize this desktop app version of ChatGPT.

The good news is that, upon learning of the issue, OpenAI immediately released a fix that now encrypts all the chats stored on the ChatGPT for Mac app.

Massive Implications for Mac Users If Left Unfixed

The privacy issue was initially discovered by a user called Pedro Vieto, who shared it via Threads, claiming that ChatGPT for Mac was not sandboxed when it was released. It is known that most chat apps are sandboxed when released, but Vieto claimed OpenAI intentionally opted out of the sandbox, which is known to block access to private user data, and could only do so when given explicit permission to access it.

OpenAI and Apple's Renowned Partnership

It was confirmed at the last WWDC 2024 that Apple and OpenAI have a partnership to make its ChatGPT and other GPT models accessible on Cupertino's iOS 18. This is a mutual development for both companies, but OpenAI is not exactly getting paid for bringing its technology to Apple's systems. Yet the company considers it a win as it gets more exposure on Cupertino's platforms.

However, not exactly all users are on board with Apple and OpenAI's partnership, as when the news was announced last WWDC 2024, Tesla CEO and former OpenAI board member Elon Musk was opposed to this. He previously regarded iOS 18 as a "security violation" with its OpenAI ChatGPT integration and banned Apple devices on Tesla.

OpenAI also saw its fair share of lawsuits regarding privacy, security, and copyright violations from different users, especially with its past training in its generative AI models.

That being said, a few weeks after OpenAI launched ChatGPT for Mac, users raised a privacy concern, but the good thing is that it was immediately fixed.