OpenAI has rolled out a novel locked chat capability for ChatGPT, empowering users to activate it for particular dialogues. Upon locking, the conversation will be excluded from standard records, pinned conversations, and general search outcomes, and will be relocated to a designated locked section. To gain access again, a four-digit account PIN code is necessary, and mobile devices also offer the option of biometric or device unlock authentication. This functionality is accessible across both paid and free subscription tiers, with a phased implementation currently in progress. However, it is not available in the Healthcare edition.

Locked dialogues and their associated files are retained within the account, occupying a distinct memory space. Memory data generated prior to locking will remain intact. This feature merely modifies the display location and access mechanism of conversations; it does not incorporate end-to-end encryption, nor does it alter the chat retention duration or model training configurations. Its sole purpose is to avert direct viewing of conversations by others, rather than to encrypt or modify data processing techniques.