OpenAI launches Advanced Account Security with Yubico hardware keys

OpenAI launched Advanced Account Security on Thursday, a set of opt-in protections for ChatGPT users built around hardware security keys from its new partner, Yubico. The program is designed for high-value individuals, including political dissidents, journalists, researchers, and elected officials, but is available to any user who wants stronger account protection. The two companies are releasing co-branded YubiKey C NFC and YubiKey C Nano devices that can be tied directly to ChatGPT accounts. Yubico chief executive Jerrod Chong said the intent is to "drastically reduce the threat of unauthorized access to sensitive data in OpenAI accounts worldwide." The partnership is aimed at countering phishing, which digital security researchers say is a growing threat for chatbot users given the intimate nature of many AI conversations. Security keys are small hardware devices that contain a unique cryptographic identifier and connect via a computer's USB port. Only the person in physical possession of the key can log into a connected account. The announcement follows other recent moves by OpenAI to tighten digital security, including the launch of a new framework for digital defense. Competitor Anthropic has also increased its focus on the area, announcing a cybersecurity model called Mythos several weeks ago. The stronger protection comes with a tradeoff. If a user loses their security key, OpenAI will not be able to help recover account access, which means stored conversations could be lost permanently.