OpenAI activates default marketing cookies for free...

OpenAI has quietly shifted how it handles data for the millions of people who use its free ChatGPT interface. The company’s latest terms now turn on marketing‑related cookies by default, a move that contrasts with earlier versions of its privacy policy, which kept such tracking optional. WIRED’s recent side‑by‑side comparison highlights the subtle but meaningful change: identifiers that were once only collected with explicit consent are now gathered automatically unless users disable them in their settings.

While the rollout affects only non‑paying accounts, the implications ripple through how OpenAI can tailor promotions and gauge their reach. The update also promises an opt‑out mechanism, but the default state means most users will be tracked from the moment they log in. Below, OpenAI explains the rationale behind the tweak and how it plans to balance marketing relevance with user control.

**Quote:** “To make OpenAI marketing efforts more relevant and measure their effectiveness, we may share limited identifiers, such as cookie IDs or device IDs, and users can opt out at any time in settings.”