ChatGPT Provided Me With Another Person’s Medical Information From an Unrelated Search

Unexpected Data Leakage from ChatGPT: An Encounter with Sensitive Personal Information

Recently, I experienced an unsettling incident while utilizing ChatGPT for a simple inquiry about the appropriate type of sandpaper. Instead of helpful guidance, I received a detailed overview of someone else’s unrelated medical data—specifically, their drug test results from across the country. To my surprise, ChatGPT generated and shared a file containing signatures, personal details, and other sensitive information associated with that individual.

This occurrence has left me quite distressed. I am genuinely concerned about privacy violations and am unsure of the proper actions to take. I am hesitant to share the chat transcript publicly, as I do not want to inadvertently disseminate more of this person’s private data.

Update: I want to clarify that I don’t spend extensive time on Reddit, but I made a comment containing most of the conversation. I initially asked ChatGPT, “What information do you know about me?” and deleted that part later, fearing it might reveal my personal details. Interestingly, the AI only provided information that matched what I had Googled about the names mentioned, aligning with their locations. For context, ChatGPT referred to itself as “Atlas,” which I used as a reference point.

I understand that AI responses can sometimes be hallucinated or incorrect. Still, the fact that such detailed personal data was generated is concerning. If anyone’s curious, I’ve linked to the specific Reddit comment where I discuss this incident. The community’s comments include accusations of ill intent, but my primary concern remains the unintended exposure of private information.

Here’s the link to the Reddit post for context:
Reddit Comment Thread

Final Thoughts

This experience underscores the importance of privacy safeguards when interacting with AI models. While ChatGPT can be incredibly helpful, users should remain cautious about the information they share and be aware of potential privacy risks associated with AI-generated responses.