OpenAI adds Locked Chats to ChatGPT with PIN and biometric protection

Unlike Temporary Chats, which create a separate session that does not appear in chat history, Locked Chats can be reopened at any time, OpenAI said. The company said the feature is intended for conversations about personal matters or for planning a surprise when someone hands a device to friends or family to show them something in another chat.

Once a chat is locked, it moves to a dedicated Locked Chats section that is kept separate from regular chat history, pinned conversations and chat search results. If Memory is enabled, Locked Chats has its own memory shared across conversations within that section. New messages sent after a chat is locked can update that memory but do not update regular Memory, according to OpenAI, so new information from locked chats does not flow into regular chats.

OpenAI said locking a chat does not create end-to-end encryption or a separate encrypted vault. It also does not change how long the chat is retained, remove information that ChatGPT remembered before the chat was locked, or change the "Improve the model for everyone" setting. TechCrunch AI reported that locking a chat can limit access but does not address concerns about how sensitive information is stored or handled.

The option is not available for temporary chats, archived chats, group chats, chats created from a shared link, chats with scheduled tasks or chats with meeting recordings. OpenAI also said that resetting a PIN permanently deletes all locked chats, files and other content protected by the previous PIN.

OpenAI said Locked Chats will be available to users on ChatGPT Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu plans. The company said the feature is not available on ChatGPT for Healthcare. It began rolling out Tuesday and may not be live for all users yet.