OpenAI just changed how it handles cookies for free ChatGPT users, and the default setting might surprise you. Marketing cookies are now turned on automatically, meaning the company is tracking your usage to figure out how to convert you into a paying customer.
This comes through an updated privacy policy that spells out exactly what OpenAI is doing with that data. They're using it to understand user behavior and optimize their conversion funnel from free to premium tiers.
For context, this is pretty standard practice in freemium software, but it's notable because ChatGPT has such a massive user base. The company is clearly focused on monetization as competition heats up in the AI assistant space.
If you're a free user who cares about this, you'll likely need to dig into your account settings to opt out. The key change here is the default setting, not whether tracking exists at all.
For professionals using ChatGPT for work, this is a reminder to check what data you're sharing, especially if you're on the free tier. Paid enterprise plans typically have different privacy protections and data handling policies.
