ChatGPT Business adds a storage region choice, but a copy still lands in the US
ChatGPT Business lets you choose Europe as your storage region. Here is what the choice covers, what it does not, and what you can do now.
OpenAI is gradually rolling out the ability to choose where ChatGPT Business content is stored, and Europe is among the options. For companies that have held back because of data storage concerns, it is a new option to evaluate. There are exceptions worth knowing about before you decide.
I tried it
I set up my own Business workspace with Europe as the region. The choice is made when you buy Business, and the selected region then shows in the admin view. I found no way to change the region afterwards, and OpenAI does not describe how that would work.
What it covers
According to OpenAI, the region controls where the workspace's primary content is stored, including prompts and responses. Europe means the EEA and Switzerland. Source: OpenAI
What it does not cover
- The choice controls where content is saved, such as chats and files. It does not control where ChatGPT processes a request when producing an answer.
- Even with a region outside the US, a copy of every prompt and response is stored in the US for a limited time, for safety and abuse monitoring. OpenAI does not state an exact period.
- Abuse-monitoring logs are also stored in the US regardless of region.
- Data sent through external integrations, such as connected apps and services or web search, is handled under each provider's own terms.
- The feature is rolling out gradually, and the shopping feature is unavailable when a region is selected.
Why it matters
For some organizations, the question of where data is stored has been a barrier to trying AI tools. A region choice makes ChatGPT Business possible to evaluate for more of them. Anyone who requires that data is stored only within the EEA needs to know about the copies in the US. The news can be a reason to revisit use cases that were paused.
What you can do now
Go through which use cases you have paused because of data storage. Check at purchase and in OpenAI's documentation what applies to you. Do not assume an existing workspace can switch region. If you want to discuss how to move forward, get in touch with me.
Frequently asked questions
- Can we choose Europe in ChatGPT Business?
- Yes, according to OpenAI, Europe (EEA and Switzerland) can be selected when you purchase Business. The feature is rolling out gradually and is not yet available to all customers.
- Does all content stay in the chosen region?
- No. Even with a region outside the US, a copy of every prompt and response is stored in the US for a limited time, for safety and abuse monitoring.
- Are responses generated in the same region?
- No. The choice covers where content is stored, not where requests are processed or responses generated.