Yes, Custom GPTs are private by default. Your conversations are not visible to other users, and the GPT itself remains tied to your account unless you explicitly share it.
Privacy, however, depends on the platform settings, access controls, and whether you publish or integrate your GPT with others. That’s the straightforward answer—but it’s not the whole story.
TL;DR
- Custom GPTs are private by default – your chats aren’t visible to other users.
- A Custom GPT stays tied to your account unless you choose to share it.
- Security depends on the platform (e.g., encryption, compliance policies).
- Features like web access, APIs, or sharing can affect privacy.
- You can keep Custom GPTs safe by using enterprise plans, strict access controls, and limiting sensitive data.
The rise of Custom GPTs is reshaping how teams deploy AI.
As more businesses adopt Custom GPTs, product managers and IT leaders are asking deeper questions: How secure are these models? What happens to my data when I upload it? Can others see what I’m doing?
In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know: what “private” really means for Custom GPTs, how secure they are, whether you can share them, and the steps you can take to keep them safe.
What Are Custom GPTs?
Custom GPTs are personalized versions of the GPT model that you can tailor to your needs. They allow businesses and individuals to build AI assistants with specific instructions, knowledge bases, and even external integrations.
For example:
- A product team might use a Custom GPT trained on technical documentation.
- A support team could deploy one that answers FAQs automatically.
- A founder might build a GPT that pitches their product in their brand voice.
Custom GPTs make generative AI accessible without coding, but like any tool handling data, privacy and security matter.
What Does “Private” Mean for Custom GPTs?
In the context of AI, private means your GPT and its conversations are not accessible to others unless you explicitly share them.
- A Custom GPT you create lives in your account.
- Only you (or those you grant access to) can use it.
- Conversations are not shared across users.
Think of it like a document in Google Drive—you decide whether it stays private, goes to your team, or is made public.
Are Custom GPTs Secure?
Yes, but security depends on the hosting platform and your plan. Most platforms, including OpenAI and CustomGPT.ai, apply strong security measures:
- Encryption in transit and at rest protects conversations.
- Account-based access controls limit who can use your GPT.
- Enterprise plans include SOC 2 compliance, GDPR alignment, and admin controls.
For regulated industries, it’s important to check compliance guarantees.
However, security also depends on usage. Avoid uploading sensitive or regulated data unless your plan explicitly covers HIPAA, GDPR, or SOC2 compliance.
Can Other People See Your Chat in GPTs?
No, other people cannot see your chats. Conversations are private to the user, even when multiple people interact with the same GPT.
If you and a colleague both use the same support GPT, you’ll each see only your own history. The GPT creator does not automatically see your chats either. Sharing the GPT shares functionality, not personal logs.
Can You Share Custom GPTs With Other People?
Yes, you can share Custom GPTs. By default, they’re private, but you can make them available. Options typically include:
- Keeping them private to your own account.
- Sharing with a specific group, such as your team or company.
- Publishing them publicly, making them available to anyone.
Pro tip: Sharing a GPT doesn’t expose your private conversations. It only gives access to the GPT’s functionality, not your chat history.
Can Custom GPTs Access the Internet?
Custom GPTs don’t have internet access by default. They work from their training data and any custom files you upload.
However, many platforms offer optional browsing or API connectors. This enables:
- Real-time information retrieval from the web.
- External integrations with business tools or databases.
Enabling these features increases functionality but also expands privacy considerations, since queries may travel outside the closed model environment.
Can Custom GPTs Communicate With Each Other?
Not automatically. Custom GPTs don’t talk to each other unless you set up workflows that connect them.
Some organizations link GPTs through:
- APIs where one GPT’s output feeds another.
- Automation platforms like Zapier or Make.
- Custom middleware designed for multi-agent systems.
This can be powerful, but it requires intentional design. By default, each GPT operates independently.
Is There a Limit to Using Custom GPTs?
Yes, Custom GPTs have usage limits, and these vary by plan.
- Free users: Limited GPT-4 queries and message caps.
- Pro users: Higher usage quotas, faster response times.
- Enterprise plans: Custom contracts, higher limits, and dedicated resources.
Limits may also apply to:
- The number of documents or files uploaded.
- API usage measured in tokens.
- Conversation length or context size.
Understanding these limits helps with planning deployments at scale.
How Do You Keep a Custom GPT Private and Secure?
Keeping Custom GPTs secure requires both platform features and good practices.
Best practices include:
- Keep GPTs private unless sharing is necessary.
- Restrict sensitive data unless your plan guarantees compliance.
- Use enterprise controls for admin visibility and audit logs.
- Regularly review access to ensure settings align with policies.
- Disable optional tools like web browsing if not required.
By combining platform protections with operational discipline, organizations can confidently deploy Custom GPTs in secure environments.
FAQ
Do Custom GPTs train on my chats by default?
No. User chats are not automatically used to retrain models unless you opt in. Enterprise accounts disable training by default.
Can I export or delete Custom GPT data?
Yes. Most platforms allow data exports and permanent deletion through account settings or API.
Can I limit a Custom GPT to a specific knowledge base only?
Yes. You can restrict responses to uploaded files or defined instructions.
What happens to data when web access is off?
The GPT only uses its base model and uploaded documents—it won’t pull in external content.
Can I share a Custom GPT without sharing its underlying data?
Yes. Sharing gives others access to the GPT’s functionality, but your chats and private data remain hidden.
Conclusion
So, are Custom GPTs private? Yes—your GPTs and chats are private by default. But privacy depends on your platform, plan, and how you configure sharing.
For product managers and IT/security leaders, the key is to balance functionality (like web access or team sharing) with security controls. With the right setup, Custom GPTs can be powerful, private, and safe to deploy at scale.
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