The CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, has warned that conversations users have with ChatGPT are not legally protected in the same way as discussions with doctors, lawyers, or therapists.
Altman made the statement during an interview on comedian Theo Von’s podcast, This Past Weekend, expressing concern that many people, especially younger users, treat the AI chatbot like a therapist without realizing that those interactions lack legal confidentiality.
Altman acknowledged the growing reliance on AI for personal guidance but said the legal system has not caught up with the technology. “If you go talk to ChatGPT about your most sensitive stuff and then there’s like a lawsuit or whatever, we could be required to produce that,” he explained.
He stressed the importance of creating legal safeguards around AI conversations and called for a new framework that offers users the same privacy expectations as traditional mental health support.
His comments come as OpenAI challenges a court order in the United States that could force the company to retain and possibly share user chats. The company has called the ruling an “overreach” and is appealing the decision, warning that it could set a troubling precedent.
Altman emphasized the need for legal clarity, agreeing with Theo Von’s caution about using ChatGPT heavily until privacy rules are clearly defined.
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