OpenAI is connecting ChatGPT to bank accounts via Plaid

OpenAI announced that ChatGPT users can connect their bank accounts through Plaid, giving the AI access to account balances, transaction history, investment portfolios, and debt information in exchange for spending dashboards and financial advice. The feature, launching first for $200/month Pro subscribers, follows OpenAI's January health data integration and raises privacy concerns about what the company does with sensitive financial data long-term and how it's protected against breaches. Critics note OpenAI has not clearly addressed commercial safeguards around this valuable dataset or what happens to the data if the company's business model or ownership changes.