Is your AI therapist betraying your confidentiality? What Sam Altman’s warning means for our community

Here you are pouring your heart out to what they believe is a confidential confidant, unaware that your deepest secrets could one day be laid bare in a courtroom. As a community that has historically been cautious with trust, we need to listen closely to what Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, recently revealed about our intimate conversations with AI.

In a startling admission on Theo Von’s podcast, Altman acknowledged what many of us have instinctively felt, but couldn’t quite articulate: when we share our pain, our relationship struggles, our trauma with ChatGPT, we’re speaking to a product that could be compelled to testify against us.

This is a profound violation waiting to happen. Especially for our communities, where mental health support has often been inaccessible, or stigmatized, AI has emerged as an appealing alternative. Young people, in particular, have embraced these digital companions, seeking guidance they can’t find elsewhere, but in doing so, they are leaving digital breadcrumbs of their most vulnerable moments, unprotected by the legal safeguards that govern human professionals.

We heard and felt the concern ripple through our community discussions. How could something that feels so safe be so exposed? The answer lies in the gap between innovation and regulation, a gap that our communities often fall through first.

Altman’s honesty about this problem is refreshing, if unsettling. “I think that’s very screwed up,” he admitted about the lack of privacy protection. This is recognition that our digital intimacy deserves the same respect as our human connections.

As someone who has worked at the intersection of mental health and community empowerment, I see both sides of this complex issue. AI has democratized access to emotional support for many who would otherwise go without. It’s there at 3:00 AM when traditional services are closed. It doesn’t judge. It doesn’t carry the cultural baggage that can make seeking help feel impossible.

This convenience comes at a cost we are only beginning to understand. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, we witnessed how quickly digital data could become evidence. Period-tracking apps, search histories, and now potentially our AI conversations could be weaponized against us.

What does this mean for our community moving forward? First, we must approach AI with the same cautious wisdom we have applied to other systems. Share, but don’t confess. Seek guidance but hold back the details that could compromise you.

Second, we must advocate for ourselves in this digital frontier. The legal frameworks Altman mentions will be shaped by those who demand them. Our voices must be part of that conversation, ensuring privacy protections reflect the needs of communities most at risk.

Finally, let this moment remind us of what makes human connection irreplaceable. As Altman himself noted, “The things that are most deeply human will become more precious, sacred, and valued.” In our rush toward technological solutions, we must not forget the healing power of being truly seen, heard, and protected by another human being.

The plot twist in this story is that we have placed expectations on it that it cannot yet fulfill. Our task now is to navigate this new landscape with both open hearts and clear eyes, ensuring that as we embrace innovation, we never leave our right to privacy behind.