Openai
Sam Altman is the face of ChatGPT and recently made a compelling argument against using ChatGPT (or any cloud-based AI bot) in favor of an LLM running on a PC.
Altman, in a podcast with Theo Von, pointed out that OpenAI, at the moment, retains everything you say to it. This can range from a casual chat to a deep, meaningful discussion about personal topics. (Whether or not you want to tell ChatGPT your darkest secrets is a different topic.)
OpenAI does keep your conversations private. There are no legal protections that require it to anonymize your chats or indemnify them. If a court orders OpenAI, it will probably comply. Imagine a divorce proceeding where the defendant asked ChatGPT multiple times if they should be having an affair with their coworker or worse.
Altman told Von – a comedian, podcaster and actor named Theodor Capitani von Kurnatowski who goes by the stage name Theo Von – that “we will definitely need a legal framework or policy framework for AI.” Clip posted on Twitter
Altman said on Von’s podcast that “people talk about the most private shit of their lives to ChatGPT.” “Young people, in particular, use it as a life coach or therapist. I have relationship problems. What should I do?” Right now, you can talk to a lawyer, a therapist, or a doctor and they will not be able to tell anyone about your problems. There is doctor-patient confidentiality and there is legal confidentiality. We haven’t determined what happens when you speak to ChatGPT. Altman continued, “If you talk to ChatGPT about your most sensitive information, and there’s a lawsuit, or whatever, then we might be required to provide that.” His remarks were PCMag.com discovered
Privacy is often the main selling point when people talk about running local LLMs on your PC. Local chatbot apps such as GPT4All can be run on PCs with a GPU or NPU. More models are being released all the time.
You might want to save a local chatbot’s output on your PC. You don’t need to. Any potentially strange or incriminating conversation can be deleted instantly. (If the contents of your PC are searched or subpoenaed however, you will not have access to those conversations. It’s also illegal to delete chats in defiance of a warrant or court order to search your computer.
You can run a local AI bot on your PC and tell it whatever you want. Consider a licensed, real-life therapist.
Mark Hachman, Senior Editor at PCWorld
Mark is a technology writer with over 30 years experience. He has been writing for PCWorld since the last decade. He has written over 3,500 articles, covering PC microprocessors and peripherals, Microsoft Windows, and other topics, for PCWorld. Mark has written for PC Magazine, Byte and eWEEK as well as Popular Science, Electronic Buyers’ News and Electronic Buyers’ News. He also shared a Jesse H. Neal Award with Popular Science for breaking news. He recently gave away a collection consisting of a dozen Thunderbolt hubs and docks, as his office was simply out of space.
