ChatGPT's unprompted name mentions sparks privacy concerns among users

Several ChatGPT users have noticed that the AI chatbot is occasionally referring to them by name without being prompted to do so.

This development comes as OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has hinted at creating AI systems that "get to know you over your life" to become more personalised.

ChatGPT’s strange behaviour has sparked mixed reactions, with some users finding it "creepy" and "unnecessary."

Software developer Simon Willison has described the feature as "creepy and unnecessary," while another developer, Nick Dobos, said he "hated it."

Taking to social media, many ChatGPT users have expressed confusion about ChatGPT's new behaviour, with some comparing it to a teacher constantly calling their name.

Currently, it's unclear when this change occurred or whether it's related to ChatGPT's upgraded "memory" feature, which allows the chatbot to draw on past conversations to personalise responses.

Additionally, some users have reported that ChatGPT continues to use their name even when they've disabled memory and personalisation settings.

Notably, OpenAI has not yet commented on the change. That said, the backlash has highlighted the challenges the Altman-led AI startup faces in making ChatGPT more "personal" without crossing into user territory.

While the use of names can convey intimacy, excessive use can come across as inauthentic.