ChatGPT is listening: This is how you can deactivate background conversations

The article ChatGPT listens: This is how you can deactivate background conversations first appeared in the online magazine BASIC thinking. With our newsletter UPDATE you can start the day well informed every morning.

ChatGPT Background Conversations Disable background conversations

ChatGPT listens to conversations via voice mode even when the app is inactive. We’ll tell you how you can deactivate the “background conversations” function.

Interaction with artificial intelligence is becoming more and more natural. But that has its price. ChatGPT will have an update in 2024 a function called “Background Conversations”, which is unknown to many users. This feature allows the AI ​​to listen continuously even when the app is not active.

This means: As soon as you use voice chat, the microphone remains active, even if there is no direct conversation with ChatGPT in progress. The AI ​​then constantly listens in the background and reacts automatically as soon as a question or command is asked of the smartphone.

The advantage: This makes interaction with ChatGPT much easier. You can work hands-free because you no longer have to press buttons or search. The AI ​​reacts immediately like a real conversation partner, which enables quick reactions to questions in between.

ChatGPT: What are background conversations?

This approach fits the vision that OpenAI also pursues with its ChatGPT Atlas browser. The AI ​​should act as an “agent” that understands the user’s world and actively takes on tasks. Atlas is designed as a browser with built-in AI that aims to be a super assistant that completes tasks without you having to leave the page.

However, the “background conversations” feature carries risks. Because the constant listening of ChatGPT and the constant data transfer to OpenAI raise data protection questions. The AI ​​could notice topics that were not intended for it, which puts a strain on privacy.

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Many people find devices that are always listening annoying. The use can also be critical in sensitive environments such as customer meetings. Another problem is power consumption. Because constant listening puts a strain on the smartphone battery. Users report an increase in consumption of around ten to 15 percent per day.

ChatGPT: Disable background conversations

OpenAI states that audio clips, i.e. the users’ acoustic recordings, will be deleted after transcription unless the user has actively consented to the use of the recordings for training. However, the audio and video clips from voice chats are saved as long as the chat is visible in the history.

However, users have control: In the “Data Controls” settings area, Free, Plus and Pro subscribers can explicitly decide whether they want to share their audio and video recordings to improve the models. When the recordings are released for training, OpenAI reserves the right to have employees review them to detect misinterpretations.

It is important that this release is tied to the account and then applies to all devices on which you are logged in. If you don’t want to use the feature, you can deactivate background conversations. To do this, proceed as follows:

  1. Open that ChatGPT app on your smartphone.
  2. Click on your profile and then click “Settings”.
  3. Scroll to the “Audio” menu item and tap it.
  4. The “Background conversations” option now appears, which you can deactivate or activate using the slider.
  5. Notice: The function is only available in the ChatGPT mobile app. The path to disable “background conversations” may vary depending on the operating system.

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As a Tech Industry expert, I believe that the ability to deactivate background conversations in ChatGPT is a valuable feature that can greatly enhance the usability and efficiency of the tool. By allowing users to focus on the specific conversation at hand and filter out any distracting background noise, ChatGPT can help improve overall productivity and streamline communication.

One possible way to implement this feature could be through the use of advanced audio processing algorithms that can identify and suppress background conversations while prioritizing the primary conversation. This could help ensure that users are able to fully engage with the content of the conversation without being overwhelmed by irrelevant noise.

Additionally, providing users with customizable settings to adjust the level of background conversation suppression could further enhance the user experience and allow for greater control over the audio environment.

Overall, the ability to deactivate background conversations in ChatGPT has the potential to make the tool more user-friendly and efficient, ultimately improving the overall communication experience for users.

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