ChatGPT Can Now Alert Your Trusted Contact in Emergency

ChatGPT has introduced a new safety feature called Trusted Contact that lets users nominate someone they trust. The feature will help people stay connected to real-life support during serious emotional crises. It is available for personal ChatGPT accounts.

ChatGPT enhances safety with its Trusted Contact feature

ChatGPT’s Trusted Contact builds on existing parental controls that allow parents to receive safety alerts for their children. With the new feature, anyone over 18 can add someone they trust, such as a friend, family member, or caregiver. This feature is designed to help in situations where a user may be discussing self-harm.

If automated systems and trained reviewers detect a serious safety concern, the trusted contact may be notified for support in the real world. For privacy reasons, the safety alert does not include chat details or transcripts. Note that you can add only one trusted contact.

To set up the feature, go to Settings > Trusted contact. Now select Add contact, then enter the person’s details in Name, Email, and Phone (optional). Finally, select the consent checkbox. After saving the details, ChatGPT sends an invitation to the chosen person via email, SMS, WhatsApp, and/or ChatGPT in-app messages.

The invitation explains what the Trusted Contact means and asks them to review it before accepting. Note that they must accept within one week. If they do not respond in time and decline the invitation, ChatGPT will notify the user. This will allow them to select a different trusted contact.

The good thing is that user can remove or edit their Trusted Contact at any time. Likewise, a trusted contact can also remove themselves if they no longer want to take part. OpenAI says no system is perfect, and a notification may not always match what a person is going through. However, trained reviewers check every case before sending any notification. The company aims to complete these safety reviews within one hour.