ChatGPT could soon let users lock sensitive conversations behind a PIN or biometric authentication, adding a more permanent layer of privacy beyond Temporary Chats.
As OpenAI and ChatGPT continue to evolve and improve, a latest upgrade could allow the app to lock your most sensitive chats behind a PIN code or fingerprint scan, preventing anyone from catching a glimpse of them. Information about the potential feature is based on inactive code found in the latest version of ChatGPT for Android, as spotted by Android Authority.
References to the upcoming feature include “locked chats” and “Protect chats” in the code.
ChatGPT already offers temporary chats for conversations that are more personal or sensitive. These chats are instantly forgotten once you close them, disappearing from your ChatGPT account. However, the feature identified for the future appears to make the privacy option more permanent.
Will locked chats be referenced for future queries?
There are some questions about how locked chats might interact with ChatGPT’s memory and recall features. The code suggests that locked chats would only be available for reference within those chats, even if memory is enabled.
From private queries and medical questions to job applications, the new feature could keep sensitive conversations better protected. The references provide no indication of when the feature might go live, and OpenAI could, of course, change course and decide not to launch it at all. For now, this is a feature to keep an eye on.
More from Tech
As ChatGPT becomes increasingly woven into everyday tasks, users are also trusting it with more personal and sensitive information. From private queries to work-related conversations, some chats may be too sensitive to leave openly accessible on a device. This is where a dedicated lock for individual conversations could prove useful.