Sharing a paid account for ChatGPT, Gemini or Claude can make premium AI tools more affordable. But giving other people access may also put private information and connected services at risk, and could lead to an account being closed, according to a report by t3n.

The first concern is login security. Anyone who receives the account’s email address and password could try those credentials on other websites, particularly if the same password is used elsewhere. Even a separate email account does not eliminate every risk: other users could use it to sign up for services, potentially causing problems for the account holder.

Shared access can also expose information linked to external services. The article notes that ChatGPT can connect with tools and accounts including Gmail, Google Calendar, Slack, Teams, LinkedIn and Stripe. In addition, shopping features may allow purchases through compatible retailers. Someone using a shared account could potentially see connected information or make purchases in the account holder’s name.

Another risk is that other users can read the conversation history. People may discuss sensitive subjects with chatbots, including finances, health or personal relationships. The report describes a student with Crohn’s disease who shared an account with a study partner. He later realized that his partner could read his chats about managing symptoms.

Sharing can also make an AI assistant less useful. Chatbots may draw on information from previous conversations to tailor their answers, but a shared history can mix details about several people. The article recounts examples of study questions and job application materials incorporating information relevant to other account users.

The account holder may also face consequences if someone uses the service to generate content that breaches its restrictions. Although major AI companies apply safeguards, the report says misuse through a shared account could still be traced back to the person who owns it.

Finally, sharing may breach the service’s terms. OpenAI, Google and Anthropic could close accounts if they detect such use, potentially taking the conversations and other account data with them. The article was originally published on August 18, 2026, and later updated.

Sources: t3n.