Imagine having your most personal conversations with AI broadcast to the world. Sounds bizarre, right? But that’s the reality with Meta AI’s new feature that lets users share their chats publicly, accessible through Google searches!

This week, OpenAI stirred up a storm when users discovered that some of their ChatGPT conversations were being indexed by Google. Many people were caught off guard, likely oblivious to the fact that their shared chats could be publicly searchable. OpenAI soon responded by announcing they would stop these chats from being indexed.

However, Meta AI is taking a different approach. Launched earlier this spring, its stand-alone MetaAI app allows users to share their chats on a “Discover” feed, and yes – Google can index those as well. That means if someone chats about how to find the best birthday balloons and shares it, you could stumble upon that conversation during a Google search!

Just imagine the potential for embarrassing situations. When I did a few searches, I uncovered various MetaAI conversations that were surprisingly personal – from health inquiries to relationship advice. Some chats even included personal details like phone numbers and email addresses, making it all the more concerning.

Despite clicking the share button, I can’t help but think that many users didn’t realize the full implications of their choice. In response to the initial privacy concerns, the Meta AI app has made some adjustments to clarify sharing intentions. Now when you opt to share a conversation, a pop-up warning appears stating: “Conversations on feed are public so anyone can see them and engage.”

It seems this new warning has made an impact. As I scrolled through the Discover feed, I noticed a shift towards more creative uses, such as image generation, and fewer of those accidental private chats – though they still pop up occasionally.

Daniel Roberts from Meta confirmed that shared chats would continue to be indexed by Google, emphasizing the multi-step process of sharing. Currently, Meta AI is only accessible via its mobile app, which might give users a false sense of security, as they could think of the Discover feed as a closed-off area, separate from the internet. But beware: public posts can easily be shared as links, opening the floodgates to Google indexing.

So, the big question remains: why would anyone want their AI conversations available for all to see? It boggles the mind. But it’s clear that in a world where privacy seems to be slipping away, understanding the digital footprints we leave is more crucial than ever.