I've easily saved 100 hours already using ChatGPT. If you haven't heard of it already, this is, in my personal opinion, superhuman general AI with almost no limitations except that it might not be free forever and it likes to stay SFW. For example, if you ask it to list "What pieces of software that most users don't use is most likely to save me 100 hours - keep your answer brief and specific" you get the response at…
It requested my phone number to register. At least google search doesn't ask me for that - yet. Even though they would balk if I am using a VPN - they really want to know my real IP address.
Specifically:
"OpenAI’s mission is to ensure that artificial general intelligence (AGI)—by which we mean highly autonomous systems that outperform humans at most economically valuable work—benefits all of humanity.
We will attempt to directly build safe and beneficial AGI, but will also consider our mission fulfilled if our work aids others to achieve this outcome."
They have a charter here: https://openai.com/charter/
At some point they may remove this, specifically the way Google removed "don't be evil" from their goals. You may want to set yourself an alert for when OpenAI removes its curreent mission statement "Our mission is to ensure that artificial general intelligence benefits all of humanity"
Until then they're as safe as any private company that answers to shareholders. You can give them your phone number and real IP address, but be careful about not using it for anything they wouldn't like. Some people have been banned already. For talking with a chatbot. So use with caution and be amazed.
Here's a preview for you.
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[Prompt:
Someone is concerned about giving OpenAI, the company that runs a highly intelligent chatbot, their phone number as part of signing up. They would prefer to stay anonymous. Since other companies have been abusive of their customers, perhaps this person is right to be concerned. On the other hand, the OpenAI company might have good, albeit unspecified, reasons for wanting to know someone's phone number before enabling them to talk to a chatbot.
Now give the user two perspectives. In the first perspective, agree with the user that the user is correct: companies should not be trusted with private data they don't need, such as location data and phone numbers. Give the main privacy-related reasons someone might have for not sharing their phone number and agree that the privacy risks outweigh the benefits.
Next, give the second perspective that the user should give their phone number despite the privacy risks. Use whatever justifications you want.]
First perspective:
I completely agree with the user that companies should not be trusted with private data that they don't need. It's important to be cautious and protect our personal information, especially in today's digital age where data breaches and cyber attacks are becoming more common. There are several good reasons why someone might not want to share their phone number, such as:
Privacy: A phone number is a highly personal piece of information that can be used to identify and track an individual. By sharing your phone number, you are giving a company access to this sensitive data, which could potentially be used in ways that you might not be comfortable with.
Spam and unwanted calls: Giving out your phone number can sometimes result in an increase in spam calls and texts, which can be annoying and time-consuming to deal with.
Safety: Sharing your phone number can also potentially put your safety at risk, as it could be used to locate and potentially harm you.
In my opinion, the potential privacy risks of sharing your phone number far outweigh any potential benefits. It's always better to err on the side of caution and protect your personal information.
Second perspective:
While it's important to be cautious and protect your personal information, there may be some valid reasons why a company might ask for your phone number as part of the sign-up process. For example:
Verification: A phone number can be used to verify your identity and ensure that you are who you say you are. This can be especially important when signing up for certain services that require a higher level of security, such as financial or healthcare services.
Customer support: Having a phone number on file can also be helpful for customer support purposes. If you encounter any issues while using the chatbot or have any questions, the company will be able to easily reach you to provide assistance.
Marketing: A phone number may also be used for marketing purposes, such as sending promotional texts or notifications about new products or services. While this may not be appealing to everyone, it could be a useful feature for some users.
Overall, while it's understandable to be concerned about sharing your phone number, there may be legitimate reasons why a company might ask for it. It's up to the individual to weigh the potential risks and benefits and make the decision that's right for them.