Is ChatGPT safe to use?
Short answer: yes, for everyday questions and writing help, as long as you follow a few common-sense rules. The bigger risks are typing in private information and trusting an answer without checking it.
1. What happens to what you type
By default, OpenAI (the company behind ChatGPT) may use your conversations to improve its models. You can turn that off: open Settings → Data controls and switch off "Improve the model for everyone." Your chats still show in your history, but new ones won't be used for training. OpenAI says the setting applies to your whole account, on every device.
2. Use "Temporary Chat" for anything personal
A Temporary Chat doesn't show up in your history, doesn't create memories, and isn't used to train the models. OpenAI says these chats may be kept for up to 30 days for safety checks, then deleted.
3. Never type these in
- Your Social Security or Medicare number
- Bank, card or account numbers and passwords
- Full medical records with your name on them
No chatbot needs these to help you. If a "ChatGPT" site or caller asks for them, it isn't the real thing.
4. It can be confidently wrong
ChatGPT sometimes makes things up and sounds sure about it. For health, money or legal questions, use it to understand the topic and prepare questions, then check with your doctor, bank or a lawyer.
5. Use the real app
The real website is chatgpt.com. The basic version is free. Be wary of look-alike apps that charge you right away.
Bottom line: turn off training, use Temporary Chat for anything personal, keep numbers and passwords out, and double-check anything important.