How to find out if your ChatGPT chats went public is the topic of this blog. It’s here to help you if you’re concerned about the security of your ChatGPT.
Have You Used ChatGPT?
Have you used ChatGPT to test prompts, brainstorm ideas, or even map out strategy? If you have, you’re not alone. It’s a brilliant tool for marketers, business owners, and marketing teams alike. But did you know that some people’s private conversations were recently made publicly searchable on Google?
That’s right. As someone who works closely with service-based businesses and marketing teams, I want to make sure you’re aware of what happened, how to check your own settings, and why proper training matters more than ever.
What Actually Happened When Chats Were Made Public?
OpenAI briefly introduced a feature where shared ChatGPT links could be made “discoverable”. If you used the Share feature and ticked the “Make this link discoverable” box, your chat could have ended up on search engines like Google.
While this feature was optional and has now been disabled, many users didn’t realise the privacy implications. In some cases, sensitive information, business strategies, and even personal identifiers were exposed. Understandably, it caused concern.
How to Check If Your AI Chats Were Shared Publicly
If you’ve ever used the Share function in ChatGPT, here’s how to double-check:
- Open ChatGPT and go to your chat history (left-hand menu).
- Look for any conversations you may have shared.
- If you remember sharing a link from ChatGPT, visit it in your browser.
- If it loads, it may still be accessible to anyone with the link (even though discoverability has now been removed).
- If you no longer want it visible, either delete the shared chat from your history or regenerate the conversation without sharing.
Optional: Check Google
You can also search Google with this command:
site:chat.openai.com/share [your business name or unique phrase]If nothing comes up, you’re likely fine. If something does, delete the shared link or ask for de-indexing through Google.
Why This Matters for Service-Based Businesses and Marketing Teams
Whether you’re a small business owner, service-based business or part of a busy marketing team, the content you generate using AI tools can include strategic insight, customer data, or proprietary ideas. If shared unintentionally, that information could be visible to competitors or the public.
That’s why I always begin my one-to-one ChatGPT training sessions by setting up your account the right way. Privacy settings. History settings. Sharing protocols. All covered. Because when it comes to business strategy and marketing content, safeguarding your data is just as important as generating it.
Training Before Using AI Is Essential
There’s a growing belief that you can just “dive in” and start using tools like ChatGPT. And while it’s intuitive, using it well – and safely – is another matter.
Proper AI training helps you:
- Avoid data privacy issues
- Improve the quality of your outputs
- Use AI in a way that aligns with your brand tone and strategy
- Train your team with consistency
If you’ve already used ChatGPT but never set up the settings correctly or shared content without realising the risks, it’s not too late to upgrade your knowledge.
Final Thought
This blog is designed to offer guidance based on current information available, but I always recommend doing your own due diligence when using any AI platform. ChatGPT is incredibly powerful, but like any tool, it must be used responsibly. You must train your AI to work for you. Keep yourself updated with current AI trends and news.
If you’re concerned about your privacy settings or want to make sure your team is using AI correctly, I offer one-to-one training tailored specifically for service-based businesses and marketing teams. I’m, Tracy Heatley, and I’m also a Chartered Marketer and a CIM Certified AI Marketing Specialist, so if you need assistance with your AI Marketing, I’d love to hear from you.
Let’s get your ChatGPT settings right from the start.
In the meantime, I hope you’ve found this How to Find Out If Your ChatGPT Chats Went Public blog useful.
Need Help With ChatGPT?
Need Help? Visit my ChatGPT Training Page or get in touch to find out more.
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Explore More: If you’re a service-based business owner or part of a marketing team, explore my Strategy, Marketing, and AI services.
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