ChatGPT 80s Photo Trend: Privacy Risks Of Uploading Personal Images
AI photo trends can expose personal data through uploaded images.
The viral ChatGPT 80s photo trend has taken social media by storm, with users transforming ordinary photographs into colourful, nostalgic portraits inspired by the 1980s. The AI-generated images often feature period clothing, elaborate hairstyles, warm studio lighting and vintage film effects. While the trend may appear harmless, uploading a personal photograph to an AI platform comes with privacy considerations that users should understand before participating.
A photograph can contain more information than what is immediately visible. Apart from a person's face, which can constitute personal data, the original image may contain metadata such as the date it was captured, the device used and, in some cases, location information. Background details can also unintentionally reveal house numbers, street signs, vehicle registration plates, workplaces or other people present in the frame.
When an image is uploaded to ChatGPT, it becomes part of the interaction with the service and is handled under OpenAI's applicable data policies. For consumer accounts, OpenAI states that content, including images, may be used to improve its models unless users opt out through their settings. However, this does not mean every uploaded photograph is automatically used to train an AI model, as data handling can vary depending on the service and account settings. Business products and the API have different data-use policies.
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For users who want additional privacy, OpenAI provides controls that can limit how conversations are used. The "Improve the model for everyone" option can be turned off under Settings and Data Controls. Temporary Chat is another option; according to the information provided, such chats are not used to train models, do not appear in chat history and are automatically deleted from systems within 30 days, subject to certain exceptions.
Users should avoid uploading highly sensitive photographs, identity documents, private records or intimate images to participate in an online trend. It is also advisable to avoid uploading photographs of other people, particularly children, without appropriate permission. Cropping unnecessary background details, obscuring house numbers or vehicle plates and checking privacy settings before uploading can reduce the amount of information shared with an AI service.
The trend also raises questions about the environmental impact of AI-generated images. Research cited from Carnegie Mellon University and Hugging Face estimated that generating an AI image can consume roughly 0.01 to 0.29 kilowatt-hours of electricity, depending on the system and generation process. A single image may require relatively little energy, but repeated generations at large scale can add up. Users can therefore enjoy creative AI tools while being more mindful about privacy and avoiding unnecessary generations.
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