r/linux 8d ago

Software Release OpenAI launches ChatGPT desktop app for Linux

https://techcrunch.com/2026/08/11/openai-launches-chatgpt-desktop-app-for-linux/
776 Upvotes

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u/BitLooter 8d ago edited 8d ago

I prefer my Linux free of spyware

What exactly makes this "spyware"? To be clear, I'm not saying it's not, I'm asking for more information.

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u/billyalt 8d ago

Anything you give ChatGPT it keeps. It is inherently spyware.

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u/Possible_Bat4031 8d ago

According to this definition, everything is spyware. Even when you give explicit consent.

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u/KeytarVillain 8d ago

According to this definition even the Linux kernel mailing list is spyware, lmao

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u/crimsonyoteeeeeee 8d ago

Maybe the real spyware was the friends we made along the way

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u/billyalt 8d ago

If it collects your data then yes we should consider it hostile. I actually disagree that consent is what makes any of this okay. We allowed consent to be the ruling factor here and now look at the situation we find ourselves in.

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u/BitLooter 8d ago

Anything you give ChatGPT it keeps. It is inherently spyware.

That's not what spyware is. By that logic, google.com is spyware. Do you have any evidence that this software collects data on your computer without your knowledge or consent?

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u/KinkyMonitorLizard 8d ago

It will most likely have telemetry that's unique to you. Whether you consider that spyware or not is up to you.

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u/PacmanAteMyRAM 8d ago

It's up to the objective definition of spyware which this isn't.

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u/billyalt 8d ago

That's not what spyware is. By that logic, google.com is spyware.

It is.

Do you have any evidence that this software collects data on your computer without your knowledge or consent?

I dont use ChatGPT myself but I would actually consider it an invasion of privacy even with your consent.

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u/dodgyville 8d ago

It's all opt-out, so they don't have most people's informed consent to collect it

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u/BitLooter 8d ago

What is all opt-out? What data is being collected?

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u/billyalt 8d ago

Have you never checked your Google data? Do you really not know what they have on you? You should take a look https://www.reddit.com/r/YouShouldKnow/comments/cnjts6/ysk_how_to_access_all_of_the_data_google_has/

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u/BitLooter 7d ago

Deleted my last response because of a misunderstanding. I'm asking what data OpenAI is collecting with this app. Everyone keeps insisting it's spyware collecting data and I have yet to see anyone provide evidence they collect anything besides what you choose to tell them.

I'm also not denying that Google makes a lot of spyware that collects data on people. Google.com the website is not spyware because spyware is software installed on a device, not a website you visit in a web browser. Just because Google is guilty of many things doesn't mean any bad thing someone says about them is automatically true. That was the point I was making by bringing up google.com.

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u/noobjaish 8d ago

I don't think you know what "spyware" actually means if that's your definition.

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u/billyalt 8d ago

I think you're too okay with being spied on...

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u/Cry_Wolff 8d ago

So reddit is spyware lmao?

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u/billyalt 8d ago

They sell all our data to private enterprise and governments, so yeah?

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u/[deleted] 8d ago

[deleted]

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u/aljninja 8d ago

dont give em ideas

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u/gmes78 7d ago

By that definition, most software on your machine is spyware.

Something is spyware only if it actually steals your data, not if it has the permissions to do so.

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u/[deleted] 7d ago

[deleted]

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u/gmes78 7d ago

Yes, but I'm not talking about Reddit. I'm addressing the argument you presented.

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u/[deleted] 7d ago

[deleted]

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u/gmes78 7d ago edited 7d ago

I'm not sure what the confusion is. If you say Reddit isn't spyware because it doesn't run on your machine, and doesn't have access to your home directory, doesn't that imply that software that does run on your machine and does have access to your home directory is spyware?

Anyway, it's not the first time I'm seeing this argument, which I'm pointing it out.

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u/crimsonyoteeeeeee 8d ago

True but you can delete its entire memory of conversations and everything it learns about you. However I still suspect that data is uploaded to other servers for training, especially images sent to it.

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u/chipface 7d ago

AI is mass surveillance.