OpenAI says it may store chats and related screenshots from customers using Operator, its AI “agent” tool, for up to 90 days even after users manually delete them.
OpenAI has a similar deleted data retention policy for its AI-powered chatbot platform, ChatGPT. However, ChatGPT's retention period is only 30 days, which is 60 days less than Operator's retention period.
OpenAI says the operator's data retention policies are designed to combat abuse.
“As agents are a relatively new technology, we wanted to ensure our team had time to better understand and consider potential exploitation vectors,” an OpenAI spokesperson told TechCrunch. “This retention period gives users control over their data while increasing fraud monitoring and preventing product misuse.”
OpenAI announced Operator on Thursday, releasing it as a research preview for subscribers to the company's $200 per month ChatGPT Pro plan. Operators are general-purpose AI agents with built-in browsers that can independently perform specific actions on websites.
OpenAI claims that Operator can automate tasks such as booking travel accommodations, restaurant reservations, and online shopping. Task categories that users can select within the operator interface include shopping, delivery, dining, and travel.
Operator captures screenshots of the built-in browser to help you understand how and when to perform actions within your app, such as when to use buttons or which forms to fill out. To be clear, Operator does not capture screenshots if you get “stuck,” such as when the tool requires a password. OpenAI calls this “takeover” mode.
Still, some users may be wary of volunteering screenshots of their online activities to a company, where they might be stored for more than three months. OpenAI, like ChatGPT, allows a “limited number of authorized OpenAI personnel” and “trusted service providers” to access operator data for purposes such as investigating fraud or handling legal issues. It says that there is a sex.