OpenAI updates ChatGPT privacy policy to introduce ad tracking via cookies: How to opt out | Technology News
Publish Date: 2026-05-03 02:11:00
Source Domain: indianexpress.com
5 min readNew DelhiMay 3, 2026 11:41 AM IST
OpenAI has updated its privacy policy to indicate that it would share “limited information” about users with third-party players to promote its services like ChatGPT and Codex on other websites.
In other words, OpenAI will be using cookies to market its services outside its own platforms. For context, cookies are packets of information that allow websites and advertisers to identify individual web surfers and track their browsing habits, but they can also be used for unwanted surveillance.
However, OpenAI has emphasised that user chats will not be shared with third parties and continue to remain private. “This does not impact your conversations in ChatGPT. Your conversations with ChatGPT are private and are not shared with marketing partners,” the AI startup said on Thursday, April 30.
Users were reportedly informed about OpenAI’s new privacy policy change in an email. It appears that the updated privacy policy is currently applicable for users in the United States, and seems to be targeted at converting free users and seeing how effective its ads are at conversions.
The privacy policy update comes as OpenAI looks to expand its own advertising network inside ChatGPT. Earlier this year, the company started rolling out ads at the bottom of ChatGPT outputs for US users. AI rivals such as Google are also exploring displaying ads within its generative AI products and services.
“Nothing about our policy of not sharing people’s conversations or other private user content with advertisers has changed. Like many companies, OpenAI works with select marketing partners to help people learn about our products on third-party websites and apps, and we updated our privacy policy to clarify how this works,” OpenAI spokesperson Taya Christianson was quoted as saying by Wired.
“We do not share your conversations with these marketing partners. To make OpenAI marketing efforts more relevant and…
