ChatGPT 1980s photo trend: What happens to your picture after you upload it?

The latest viral ChatGPT trend is encouraging users to upload their selfies and turn them into retro-style photographs inspired by the 1980s. The results may look fun and nostalgic, but before uploading a personal photo, users should understand what happens to the image and the data associated with it.

A photograph of a person's face can constitute personal data because it may help identify them. An image can also contain metadata, including information about when it was taken, the device used and, depending on the file, its location. Uploading a photo therefore means placing another copy of that image with an AI service, subject to its data retention and privacy rules, according to WIRED Middle East.

What happens when you upload a photo to ChatGPT?

When a photo is uploaded to ChatGPT, it becomes part of the interaction and may be stored along with other conversation data. WIRED Middle East notes that ChatGPT conversations are saved to a user's account until they are deleted, while some data may remain on OpenAI's systems for up to 30 days after deletion. Certain information may also be retained for longer for legal or security reasons or when it has been de-identified and separated from the user's account.

This does not mean that every uploaded photograph will automatically be used to train an AI model. Data handling depends on the product and the user's settings. OpenAI says its business products and API do not use customer data for model training by default.

Your photo is not the only data involved

The privacy question goes beyond the selfie itself. AI services can process information provided directly by users, information inferred from their inputs, session metadata and files or responses that are saved.

According to WIRED Middle East, services can also collect basic metadata such as IP address, device type, operating system and general geographic location. Repeated interactions may potentially reveal patterns about a user's interests, habits or work even when their name is not explicitly provided.

Should you upload your photo?

The viral trend itself does not mean that uploading a selfie will result in the image being stolen or turned into a deepfake. The bigger consideration is that users are handing another company a copy of a personal image and should understand how that service stores and processes it.

Users should avoid uploading photographs containing unnecessary sensitive information. They should also be cautious about uploading pictures of other people without their permission, particularly photographs of children. As per media reports, one should disable model training where possible, using temporary or incognito modes, deleting chats and uploaded files that are no longer needed, and reviewing the services an AI assistant can access.

What does OpenAI say about business data?

OpenAI says data submitted through ChatGPT Enterprise, ChatGPT Business, ChatGPT Edu, ChatGPT for Healthcare, ChatGPT for Teachers and its API is not used to train or improve its models by default. The company also says such business data is encrypted both at rest and in transit and that qualifying organisations can configure data-retention controls.

For people joining the viral 1980s photo trend through a personal ChatGPT account, however, the relevant privacy and data-control settings are different from those that apply to OpenAI's business products.

Before uploading that perfect retro selfie, check your privacy settings and think about what information the image reveals. The 1980s effect may disappear from social media in a few days, but the digital copy of the photograph can remain subject to the service's storage and deletion policies for longer.