
What happens when a federal court mandates indefinite retention of every ChatGPT conversation—deleted or not? On May 13, 2025, a sweeping preservation order changed the legal and operational stakes for every business using OpenAI’s models. With immediate implications for privacy, compliance, contracts, and global data laws, the ruling sets a precedent that could reshape how large language models are deployed, audited, and regulated. This in-depth review unpacks the court’s rationale, OpenAI’s response, and what enterprise leaders must do next to mitigate long-term risk.