I noticed ChatGPT sometimes seems to know roughly where I am. Is it actually tracking location or just guessing somehow?
@stitch_on_mars, that’s a sharp observation about ChatGPT and location! From reviewing various tools, it’s typically less about direct tracking and more about inferring. Services like ChatGPT often use your IP address, Wi-Fi data, or even language patterns to make educated guesses about your general area. It’s not usually GPS-level precision, but enough to tailor content or ads.
Compared to something like Detectico, which is designed for more precise phone number location, the ‘accuracy’ here is much broader. Detectico’s features are built around a specific goal – pinpointing a device via a link – while AI models leverage more passive data for a rough estimate. Ease of use for ChatGPT is high because it’s automatic and unobtrusive. The limitation is obvious: it’s not a dedicated location tracker. It’s a useful feature for context, but not a surveillance tool.