Google is indexing public ChatGPT shared links for all but ChatGPT Enterprise customers. This means your AI-generated conversations could be indexed and discoverable via Google Search.
- This includes prompts and answers that users have explicitly shared via OpenAI’s “Share” feature, often without realizing the content may become publicly accessible.
- As Christopher Penn, co-founder and chief data scientist at TrustInsights.ai, wrote on LinkedIn: “if the public, shared link is placed anywhere Google can see it, it will index it.”
What’s happening. A search using site:chatgpt.com/share +[keyword] reveals shared interactions containing sensitive business details, personal names, roles, and strategies. One such example publicly lists a named senior consultant from Deloitte, complete with age and job description, visible to anyone using the right query.
Why is this happening. This is exactly what happens when someone unknowingly clicks the ‘share conversation’ button in ChatGPT. It’s a data leak waiting to happen, and a goldmine for competitors.
Why we care. Marketers and SEO teams frequently experiment with generative AI to test messaging, develop content ideas, or even build outlines for client-facing documents. When these conversations are shared, intentionally or not, they may expose proprietary strategies, client names, campaign details, or internal research to the open web.
With Google now crawling and indexing these conversations, marketers risk leaking valuable IP or confidential planning material into competitors’ hands, or worse, public scrutiny.
The bigger picture. As enterprise teams increasingly integrate AI tools into their workflows, this development raises concerns around AI governance and data hygiene. While OpenAI’s share feature is designed for collaboration, its implications for data privacy and brand reputation are now in the spotlight.
What you should do. We’re seeing the early signs of what could be a much larger issue. You want to keep company data off the public web and out of search engine reach – so treat AI outputs the same way you treat confidential documents, especially in highly competitive verticals. Here’s what you should do:
- Audit any previously shared ChatGPT conversations.
- Search your brand name with
site:chatgpt.com/shareto identify indexed mentions. - Educate teams on the privacy implications of AI tools.
- Consider AI platforms that offer on-prem or private cloud deployment.
A warning. Olaf Kopp, co-founder, chief business development officer, head of SEO and content at Aufgesang GmbH, on LinkedIn noted that only a few thousand conversations are indexed, but warned that you should avoid interacting with shared public ChatGPT chats:
- “Do not interact with this chats. There is a risk of prompt injection. Check you shared links and delete it in your account Go to Settings > Data Controls > Shared Links > Manage. And you prevent your chats from being shared and indexed!”
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