In the wake of ongoing innovation and mounting controversy, OpenAI is reportedly planning a powerful new privacy feature for ChatGPT that could reshape how users engage with the platform. The rumored update? Encryption for temporary chats—a move that, if implemented, could significantly bolster user privacy and provide a welcome sense of security amid rising scrutiny from journalists, copyright holders, and regulators alike.
Over the past few months, OpenAI has been making headlines almost daily. From the release of its most advanced model yet—GPT-5—to noticeable shifts in personality (with GPT-5 described as “warmer” and more humanlike), the AI powerhouse has kept the tech world buzzing. But beyond its capabilities and charisma, there’s been growing tension around the question of user data: how it’s stored, who can access it, and whether it could potentially be weaponized in legal disputes.
And now, in response to increasing pressure—including a high-profile lawsuit from The New York Times—OpenAI appears to be considering end-to-end encryption for certain chat sessions. Specifically, the company may first introduce this feature in temporary chats, those not saved to user histories, according to reports from Axios.
If this move sounds small, think again. It could mark a pivotal shift in how AI tools like ChatGPT handle sensitive user input, setting a new industry standard—and potentially insulating the company from future legal battles.
The Growing Debate Around ChatGPT and Data Privacy
The core of the current controversy lies in a lawsuit filed by The New York Times, which alleges that OpenAI’s language models were trained on copyrighted content, including articles and editorial work from the publication. As part of their demands, the Times is pushing for access to all ChatGPT logs—even those that have been deleted. This, they argue, is necessary to identify potential copyright violations and hold OpenAI accountable.
However, this raises a difficult question: where should the line be drawn between responsible AI oversight and protecting individual privacy?
OpenAI’s current policy does retain chat logs for up to 30 days after deletion, though users themselves cannot retrieve them. This “limbo” period exists primarily for safety auditing and abuse prevention, but critics argue that it opens a door to future breaches, misuse, or legal overreach. Encryption—especially if applied to temporary chats—could be the company’s way of mitigating these concerns, or at least offering a counterbalance.
It’s worth noting that while encryption wouldn’t make deleted chats disappear instantly, it could make them significantly harder (or outright impossible) for third parties—including OpenAI itself—to access. That’s a big deal, especially in an era where tech companies are increasingly facing demands to surrender user data, often without the user’s consent or knowledge.
Why Encryption in ChatGPT Would Be a Game-Changer
If OpenAI does roll out encryption, it would make ChatGPT one of the few mainstream AI chatbots to offer serious privacy protections. The implications are enormous—not just for users concerned about surveillance, but for journalists, researchers, therapists, and even whistleblowers who may use ChatGPT for sensitive tasks.
Currently, interactions with AI chatbots are not private by default. Everything you type could, in theory, be reviewed for training purposes, moderation, or system improvement. While OpenAI allows users to disable chat history, that doesn’t necessarily mean your data is invisible. Encryption would be a much stronger privacy guarantee—transforming ChatGPT from a semi-observed assistant into a truly confidential tool.
And that shift could unlock even more use cases. Consider a healthcare professional using ChatGPT to brainstorm clinical notes, or a therapist jotting down anonymized session insights. With proper encryption in place, these tasks become far more viable, minimizing ethical gray areas and protecting both parties involved.
A Broader Industry Pattern: Encryption as a Competitive Advantage
OpenAI isn’t the only player thinking about this. Earlier this year, Proton—a privacy-centric tech company known for its secure email and cloud services—launched Lumo, an AI chatbot with full end-to-end encryption. Lumo has positioned itself as the go-to solution for privacy-conscious users, and its early success has proven that there’s a real appetite for secure AI tools.
While Lumo may lack some of the raw power and polish of ChatGPT, its privacy-first approach has resonated with a particular audience: journalists, lawyers, activists, and other professionals who view privacy not as a luxury, but as a necessity.
If ChatGPT were to adopt a similar framework, it could effectively combine the best of both worlds: the unmatched power and versatility of GPT-5, and the peace of mind that comes from knowing your chats are shielded from prying eyes.
Legal and Ethical Storms Brewing: The Case Against OpenAI
It’s impossible to ignore the wider legal battle unfolding. OpenAI, like many AI firms, has been accused of training its models on datasets that include copyrighted material without obtaining explicit permission. While the company has defended its practices under the doctrine of “fair use,” that defense may not hold up in court—especially as more media organizations demand accountability.
The New York Times lawsuit is particularly aggressive, not just in its tone but in its requests. Demanding access to deleted chat logs—even those clearly marked as personal or confidential—feels to many like a step too far. It introduces a chilling effect: if users believe their every interaction could be subpoenaed or handed over, they may self-censor or avoid the platform entirely.
And that would be a tragedy—not just for OpenAI, but for innovation more broadly. After all, the magic of tools like ChatGPT lies in their spontaneity, in the freedom users feel when brainstorming ideas, exploring complex topics, or expressing themselves. Encryption could help preserve that spirit.
The Limits of Temporary Solutions
However, it’s important to recognize that this proposed encryption—at least in its initial form—would likely only apply to temporary chats. That means users would have to opt in (or perhaps use a dedicated “incognito mode”) to benefit from this extra layer of protection.
That limitation raises important questions: Why not encrypt all chats by default? What happens if users forget to switch modes? Will the encrypted mode still be compatible with tools like custom GPTs, plugins, or the file upload feature?
These questions point to a larger truth: adding encryption is not as simple as flipping a switch. It requires major architectural changes, especially if the goal is to maintain performance, context awareness, and personalization features. Balancing privacy and utility will be an ongoing challenge.
Still, the mere fact that OpenAI is exploring this path shows progress. For a company that has faced waves of criticism for data use, transparency, and training practices, even a small step toward encryption is a symbolic shift—one that might redefine expectations for the entire AI industry.
Privacy in the Age of AI: A Philosophical Challenge
Beneath all the legalese and technical jargon lies a deeper question: What kind of relationship do we want to have with AI?
Should we treat it like a public notepad, knowing that everything we type could be reviewed or reused? Or should it be more like a private journal, protected by strong encryption and off-limits to outsiders?
The answer likely lies somewhere in between. For casual users, transparency and functionality may be more important than complete secrecy. But for others—those dealing with personal trauma, business strategy, or confidential data—privacy is not negotiable.
If OpenAI succeeds in creating a genuinely secure chat mode, it will send a strong message to the rest of the industry: respecting user privacy is not a bottleneck to innovation—it’s a catalyst.
Final Thoughts: A Step Toward Trust in AI
In an era where data is the new oil and privacy breaches can shatter reputations overnight, adding encryption to ChatGPT—even if only for temporary chats—is more than a technical upgrade. It’s a trust signal. A recognition that user data should be treated with the same level of seriousness as corporate trade secrets or classified government files.
Of course, implementation details matter. Will the encryption be open-source? Will it include zero-knowledge architecture? Will users get audit logs or control over deletion timelines?
We don’t yet have all the answers. But if OpenAI takes this path seriously—and commits to building a privacy-forward version of ChatGPT—it could turn a reactive measure into a proactive advantage.
After all, in the game of AI dominance, trust may be the most valuable currency of all.
