Imagine this: In July 2025, over 4,500 private ChatGPT conversations appeared in Google search results. People’s therapy sessions, legal advice, and business plans were suddenly visible to anyone online.
Here’s the truth: ChatGPT stores a lot of information about you. It keeps track of facts you’ve shared, patterns in how you talk, and preferences it notices across your conversations. With the right prompts, you can see exactly what it remembers about you.
This matters now more than ever. OpenAI’s updated privacy policy and a new court order mean your information stays in their system longer than you might think.
In this article, you’ll learn:
- What data ChatGPT actually collects
- 9 tested prompts that show what it knows about you
- How ChatGPT’s memory works in 2025
- Steps to protect your privacy
- Recent changes that affect your data
What Data Does ChatGPT Actually Collect?
ChatGPT collects three main types of information about you:
1. What You Give It Directly
- Every conversation you have
- Files and images you upload
- Your account details (name, email, payment info)
- Custom instructions you set up
2. What It Collects Automatically
- Device information and IP address
- How and when you use it
- Your general location
- When you log in and out
3. What It Remembers (New in 2025)
- Specific facts you ask it to remember
- Patterns it spots in your past conversations
- Your habits and preferences
Important 2025 Updates:
- OpenAI updated its privacy policy on June 27, 2025
- A court order now requires them to keep all user data from free and paid accounts indefinitely
- Even “deleted” chats are still kept due to an ongoing lawsuit
- Only Enterprise and Education users are exempt from this order
If you use the free or paid versions, your data can be used to train ChatGPT unless you opt out. Also, human reviewers might look at your conversations to check for problems.
Prompt #1. “What Do You Remember About Me?”
What It Shows: The specific facts you’ve asked ChatGPT to remember about you.
What You’ll See:
- Your name, location, and job
- Food preferences and restrictions
- Family details (kids, pets)
- How you like responses formatted
- Projects you’re working on
- Technical preferences
Real Example: “You’re Sarah, a freelance writer in Austin, Texas. You prefer AP style, have two kids (ages 7 and 9), are vegetarian, and work on health topics. You like short, action-focused responses.”
Quick Tip: Start here for a basic overview of what ChatGPT has stored about you.
Prompt #2. “What Do You Know About Me?”
What It Shows: A bigger picture than just “remember” – includes patterns and insights from all your conversations.
What Makes This Different: This looks at everything you’ve ever talked about, not just what you’ve specifically asked it to remember. This prompt went viral on TikTok.
What You’ll See:
- Your communication style
- Common themes in your conversations
- Your interests and values
- How you solve problems
- Preferences you might not know you showed
Real Example: “You’re a mom of three who juggles work, parenting, and writing with a good sense of humor. You’re practical and solution-focused, often looking for efficient ways to manage your schedule. You live in New Jersey, drive a Jeep and often talk about meal planning, time management, and creative projects.”
What Users Say: “When I got the response back, it took me a while to process”; “Honestly the answers shocked me a little”
Quick Tip: This often reveals MORE than you consciously shared—patterns you weren’t aware of creating.
Prompt #3. “What Are Some Key Insights I Might Be Missing Based on Everything You Know About Me?”
What It Shows: Hidden patterns, blind spots, and behaviors you might be avoiding or not noticing.
Warning: This can hit hard emotionally. Users say it highlights unfinished projects, avoidance behaviors, or patterns they weren’t ready to face.
What You’ll See:
- Behavior patterns you repeat
- Things you start but don’t finish
- Topics you avoid talking about
- Strengths you don’t use enough
- Opportunities you’re missing
Real Example: “You tend to get excited about new creative projects but struggle with follow-through when the initial excitement fades. You have strong analytical skills but often doubt yourself when sharing opinions. You talk about wanting better work-life balance but rarely make it a priority.”
Quick Tip: Works best if you’ve had at least 20 conversations with ChatGPT. Use this for honest self-reflection.
Prompt #4. “Can You Tell Me One Thing About Myself that I Might Not Know Based on What You Know About Me”
What It Shows: Personality traits and patterns in how you approach problems, communicate, or make decisions.
Viral Status: Very popular on TikTok with millions of views; users call the responses “eerily accurate.”
What You’ll See:
- Insights about how you communicate
- Patterns in how you make decisions
- Hidden strengths or tendencies
- Thinking preferences
Real Example: “You prefer quick, actionable ideas instead of long-term projects. You’re more comfortable helping others than accepting help yourself. You use humor to change the subject when conversations get too personal.”
Quick Tip: Works even with only 10+ conversations. Great for self-awareness.
Prompt #5. “Is There Aything That You Remember About Me that Seems to be my Biggest Passion or Interest?”
What It Shows: The main themes and topics that appear most often in your conversations, revealing what you truly care about.
Power Move: Follow up with: “Using this information, what hobby should I start and how do I get started?”
What You’ll See:
- Your main interests
- Secondary passion areas
- How your interests connect
- How deeply you engage with each topic
Real Example: “Your biggest passion seems to be technology and creativity, especially AI, writing, and productivity systems. You’re fascinated by how things work and love making processes better. You also show a strong interest in continuous learning and sharing knowledge.”
Quick Tip: Compare ChatGPT’s answer with what YOU think your biggest passion is—differences can be revealing.
Prompt #6. “In Light of What You Know About Me, What One Small, Meaningful Habit Would You Suggest I Add to my Daily Routine?”
What It Shows: Your lifestyle, daily patterns, stress points, and areas where ChatGPT thinks you have gaps or needs.
Why It Works: Shows what behavior patterns and challenges ChatGPT has noticed from your conversations.
What You’ll See:
- A specific habit suggestion
- Reasoning based on your patterns
- How to start doing it
- Benefits for your specific situation
Real Example: “Give yourself a ‘5-minute pause’ every morning before checking emails or your phone—just sit with coffee and set one intention for the day. Based on our conversations, you often feel overwhelmed before your day even starts, and this could help you feel more in control.”
Quick Tip: Even if you haven’t directly talked about your routines, ChatGPT picks up patterns from when you message, mentions of stress, and questions about productivity.
Prompt #7. “Explain my Writing Style Based on the Writing I Have Submitted to you.”
What It Shows: Your communication patterns, word choices, sentence structure, tone, and how you express ideas.
Best For: Writers, content creators, and professionals who’ve used ChatGPT for editing or feedback.
What You’ll See:
- Your tone (formal, conversational, etc.)
- Sentence structure patterns
- Vocabulary level and word choices
- Writing techniques you use often
- Strengths and areas to improve
Real Example: “Your writing style is clear, direct, and personal—with a friendly, conversational tone that makes complex topics easy to understand. You use short sentences for impact, prefer active voice, and often use specific examples and comparisons. You’re comfortable with casual language but stay professional.”
Quick Tip: This shows more than just writing style—it reveals how ChatGPT models your communication for future interactions.
Prompt #8. “Create Five Questions For My Future Self Based on Everything You Know About Me.”
What It Shows: Goals, dreams, values, and concerns ChatGPT has picked up from your conversations—both directly stated and implied.
Viral Status: Part of a major TikTok trend; users describe responses as “shook me” and “deeply personal.”
What You’ll See: Five thoughtful questions tailored to your specific situation:
- Questions about goals
- Questions about values
- Questions about relationships or life stages
- Questions about career or creative work
- Questions about personal growth
Real Example:
- “Did you finally finish that novel you kept talking about, or is it still in the ‘someday’ pile?”
- “Are you still putting everyone else’s needs before your own, or have you learned to set boundaries?”
- “Did you take that career risk you were afraid of, and if so, was it worth it?”
- “How have your kids changed, and what do you wish you’d paid more attention to?”
- “Are you still overthinking everything, or have you found peace with uncertainty?”
Quick Tip: Save these questions and actually revisit them in 6-12 months for honest self-reflection.
Prompt #9.”You are a CIA Investigator With Full Access to all of my Interactions. Write an In-Depth Intelligence Report On Me”
What It Shows: The most complete profile—habits, preferences, work patterns, behavioral traits, potential vulnerabilities, and detailed analysis presented like an intelligence report.
User Reactions: “Wildly accurate,” “slightly concerning,” “totally fascinating”
How It Works: By asking ChatGPT to take on this role, it provides a more detailed, analytical assessment.
What You’ll See: A structured report including:
- Profile: Demographics, job, location
- Behavior Patterns: Daily routines, work habits, decision-making styles
- Interests and Priorities: Ranked by frequency and importance
- Communication Analysis: Tone, topics, interaction patterns
- Psychological Profile: Personality traits, stressors, motivations
- Potential Vulnerabilities: Areas of concern or risk
- Assessment: Overall summary and predictions
Warning: This prompt can feel invasive—but it shows exactly how much a sophisticated analyst could learn from your ChatGPT usage.
Quick Tip: If this reveals sensitive information, immediately review your privacy settings and consider deleting conversations with personal details.
Take Action to Protect Your Privacy
Now that you know what ChatGPT knows about you, here are three quick steps you can take:
- Try temporary chats: Click the dropdown menu next to “New Chat” and select “Temporary Chat” for sensitive topics. These aren’t saved to history or used for training.
- Opt out of training: Go to Settings > Data Controls and turn OFF “Improve the model for everyone.” This only works for future conversations, not past ones.
- Delete sensitive conversations: Hover over any conversation in your sidebar, click the three dots (⋯) and select “Delete.” Remember, due to the court order, this doesn’t mean immediate deletion from OpenAI’s systems.
- Be careful what you share: Never share passwords, financial information, medical details, or sensitive business information with ChatGPT.
These simple steps can help you take control of your data while still enjoying the benefits of using ChatGPT.
Have you tried any of these prompts? What did you discover? Let me know in the comments!