Tell HN: OpenAI keeps re-enabling the 'allow training' setting

Article summary

The author of the post claims that OpenAI keeps re-enabling the 'allow training' setting despite their attempts to disable it. They advise others to check their settings to ensure they have not been re-enabled. This issue raises concerns about data privacy and the company's handling of user settings. The author is unsure whether this is a bug or an intentional action by OpenAI.

Main themes

• Data privacy
• User settings
• Company trustworthiness
• Alternative services
• Distributed systems
• Data sovereignty

What commenters say

• Some commenters believe that documenting the issue properly could help establish a legal claim against OpenAI if they are found to be re-enabling the setting without user consent.
• Others argue that proving a company intentionally re-enabled a setting is difficult, and the burden of proof may be on the user.
• A few commenters suggest that the issue may be due to incompetence rather than malice, citing the complexity of distributed systems and database transactions.
• Some users are considering switching to alternative services due to concerns about OpenAI's handling of user data and settings.
• There are differing opinions on whether Anthropic, a competitor to OpenAI, is also engaging in shady behavior, with some commenters reporting similar issues and others defending the company.
• Some commenters think that companies should not be trusted with sensitive user data, regardless of their intentions or competence.
• The issue highlights the importance of data sovereignty and the need for users to be aware of how their data is being used and handled by companies.