AI Reality Check: Unexpected Risk: Chatbots with Memory

Learn more about how to leverage these automatic assistants in a way that safeguards your important data.

AI chatbot - Artificial Intelligence digitalOpenAI has recently introduced a new feature: Your ChatGPT account will remember what you have done in the past and use that information to give you better prompting results. Google does something similar and includes your search results. 

While the improved quality this feature will provide is good news, what is potentially not so good is when team members use their private chatbot accounts for work. Sensitive and/or contractually restricted information, like contract documents, are uploaded and saved in memory. While this isn’t a huge risk if the person stays, it opens unexpected risks if they leave or even if a consultant or temporary worker, like an intern, uses their chatbots for company work. 

For the near term, there is an easy fix—ask that anyone using personal chatbots turn on “Temporary Chat” for all queries or work done with company information. This might also be a good practice to consider for company-managed chatbot accounts.


Apr 23, 2025 Member Update

Latest Articles


Listen to the latest Emerging Leaders Podcast

Mar 4, 2026 - Garrett Montrone from Western Sheet Metal talks about his industry journey and how he used his experience from Goldman Sachs to improve his family’s sheet metal business.


2026 SMACNA Annual Convention: Call for Proposals

Mar 4, 2026 - Each year, the SMACNA Annual Convention delivers forward-thinking, practical education designed to help contractors strengthen their businesses, develop their people, and stay ahead in a rapidly changing industry.


Hotel Deadline for Fab Forum Fast Approaching!

Mar 4, 2026 - March 11 is the last day to book your stay at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Chicago for the top event for SMACNA professionals looking to know more about the world of fabrication.