‘Crazy Overreach’: OpenAI’s Sam Altman Blasts NYT’s Request to Store ChatGPT Records, Says ‘Privacy is Really Important’

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman addressed the ongoing legal battle with The New York Times over user data retention in a recent episode of the OpenAI Podcast, sharply criticizing the newspaper’s request to the court to compel OpenAI to preserve consumer ChatGPT user records beyond the company’s standard 30-day retention window. Altman called the request a “crazy overreach” and expressed confidence that OpenAI will ultimately prevail in the dispute.

The lawsuit stems from The Times’ allegations that OpenAI improperly used copyrighted content in training its AI models, prompting the newspaper to seek extensive user data that could potentially reveal how its content was accessed or used. As part of the litigation process, the NYT asked the court to require OpenAI to retain ChatGPT user records for longer than the usual 30 days, a move that Altman says conflicts with OpenAI’s strong commitment to user privacy.

“We’re gonna fight that obviously, and I suspect, I hope but I do think we will win,” Altman said. “I think it was a crazy overreach of The New York Times to ask for that. This is someone who says they value user privacy, whatever. I hope this will be a moment where society realizes that privacy is really important. You cannot have a company like The New York Times ask an AI provider to compromise user privacy.”

Altman’s remarks highlight the tension between legal discovery demands and the growing public and corporate emphasis on data privacy, especially in the artificial intelligence (AI) subsector. OpenAI’s standard practice is to retain user data for a limited period — generally 30 days — to protect privacy while balancing operational needs. Extending that retention period, particularly under court order, could set a precedent with far-reaching implications for AI companies and their users.

The New York Times lawsuit is one of several high-profile legal challenges facing OpenAI as the company navigates the complex intersection of intellectual property, user rights, and AI development. The case underscores the broader societal debate about how privacy should be protected in an era when AI systems increasingly rely on vast amounts of data to function effectively.

Altman expressed hope that the controversy will accelerate the conversation that society needs to have about how we’re going to treat privacy and AI. As AI technologies become more integrated into daily life, questions about data retention, user consent, and transparency are becoming central to regulatory and public discourse.

The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant ramifications for the AI industry’s approach to data privacy and legal compliance. For now, OpenAI remains firm in its stance to protect user privacy while defending itself against what it views as excessive legal demands.

This ongoing legal battle adds another layer to the evolving challenges AI companies face as they look to balance innovation, intellectual property rights, and the imperative to safeguard user trust in an increasingly data-driven world.

On the date of publication, Caleb Naysmith did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.