Over 100 million people use AI chatbots weekly. Most have never checked their privacy settings. Every prompt you type, every document you paste, every question you ask — it is stored, often reviewed, and may be used to train the next version of the model. Here is how to use AI without exposing yourself.
What AI Platforms Actually Collect
When you use an AI chatbot, the platform typically collects:
- Your full conversation text — every prompt and response, stored on their servers
- Account information — email, name, payment details, phone number
- Device and browser data — IP address, browser type, operating system, screen resolution
- Usage patterns — when you use it, how often, which features, session duration
- Files you upload — documents, images, spreadsheets, code files
This data is stored for varying periods. OpenAI retains conversations for 30 days even after you delete them (for safety monitoring). Anthropic states it retains data per its privacy policy. Google integrates Gemini data with your broader Google activity profile.
- Passwords, PINs, or security questions — stored in conversation logs that could be breached
- Social Security numbers, tax IDs, or government ID numbers
- Credit card or bank account numbers
- Medical records or health information — not HIPAA-protected in AI chats
- API keys, database credentials, or access tokens — Samsung learned this the hard way
- Proprietary source code or trade secrets
- Other people's personal information — you may violate privacy laws
- Confidential work documents — unless using an enterprise AI with data protections
AI Data Training: What You Need to Know
Most AI companies use your conversations to improve their models — unless you opt out. Here is the current landscape:
OpenAI uses your conversations to train future models unless you disable it in Settings > Data Controls. Disabling also turns off chat history. Temporary Chat mode is an alternative.
Google may use Gemini conversations for product improvement. You can turn off Gemini Apps Activity in your Google Account settings, but this also disables conversation history.
Anthropic does not use conversations from Pro, Team, or API users for model training. Free-tier conversations may be used for safety research and improvement with privacy safeguards.
Consumer Copilot data may be used for improvement. Microsoft 365 Copilot (enterprise) data stays within your tenant and is not used for training. Check your license type.
How to Lock Down Your AI Privacy
- ChatGPT: Settings > Data Controls > toggle off "Improve the model for everyone." Use Temporary Chat for sensitive conversations.
- Claude: Privacy settings are available in your account dashboard. Pro users' data is not used for training by default.
- Gemini: Go to myactivity.google.com > Gemini Apps Activity > Turn off. Delete existing activity regularly.
- Copilot: Review Microsoft privacy settings at account.microsoft.com. Enterprise users should verify with their IT department.
- Meta AI: Limited opt-out options. Avoid sharing sensitive information. Check Settings > Privacy in Meta apps.
For a detailed walkthrough of every platform, see our AI Privacy Settings Guide.
Using AI at Work Safely
The biggest risk is not the AI itself — it is employees pasting confidential data into consumer AI tools. In 2023, Samsung engineers leaked proprietary semiconductor designs by pasting source code into ChatGPT. Several law firms have been sanctioned for submitting AI-generated briefs containing fabricated case citations.
- Check if your company has an AI acceptable use policy — follow it
- Use your company's approved AI tools (often with enterprise data protections)
- Never paste client data, internal documents, or proprietary code into consumer AI
- Do not assume AI output is accurate — verify all facts, citations, and code
- Do not use AI to make consequential decisions without human review
For comprehensive guidance, see our AI Security for Small Businesses guide.
AI-Generated Content Risks
AI tools produce confident-sounding output that may be completely wrong. Key risks:
- Hallucinations: AI models fabricate facts, statistics, URLs, citations, and even people's names. A New York lawyer was sanctioned after ChatGPT invented fake case citations that he submitted to a federal court.
- Outdated information: Models have training data cutoffs. They may provide information that was correct months or years ago but is no longer accurate.
- Bias: AI models reflect biases in their training data. Medical, legal, and financial advice from AI should always be verified with qualified professionals.
- Misinformation amplification: AI makes it easy to generate large volumes of plausible-sounding misinformation at scale.
Recognizing AI-Powered Scams
Criminals use AI to make scams more convincing. Watch for:
- AI-written phishing emails: No more broken English — AI-crafted phishing is grammatically perfect and highly personalized. See our phishing response guide.
- Deepfake voice calls: AI can clone a voice from just a few seconds of audio. "Mom, I'm in trouble and need money" calls may be AI-generated. See our deepfake detection guide.
- AI-generated fake websites: Scammers use AI to generate entire product review sites, fake stores, and impersonation pages.
- Synthetic identity fraud: AI generates realistic profile photos and backstories for romance scams and social engineering. See our AI scam recognition guide.
Secure Practices for AI Usage
- Use temporary/incognito chat modes when discussing anything remotely sensitive
- Create a separate email account for AI services — do not use your primary personal or work email
- Review and delete your AI conversation history regularly
- Use a privacy-focused browser when accessing AI tools — see our privacy browser guide
- Consider running AI locally for sensitive tasks — tools like Ollama and LM Studio run AI models on your own computer with no data leaving your device
- Enable two-factor authentication on all AI accounts — your conversation history is valuable data
- Be skeptical of AI output — verify facts, check sources, and never blindly trust generated content
Children and AI
Kids are increasingly using AI for homework, creative projects, and conversation. Key concerns:
- Data collection: Most AI platforms require users to be 13+ (18+ for some features). Children's data has additional legal protections under COPPA.
- Inappropriate content: While AI companies implement safety filters, they are not foolproof. Children can sometimes prompt AI to produce content that is not age-appropriate.
- Over-reliance: Children who use AI for all schoolwork may not develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Personal information sharing: Kids may not understand that sharing personal details with an AI creates a permanent record.
For detailed guidance on kids and AI, see our comprehensive Kids & AI Safety Guide and our child online safety guide.
Running AI Locally: Maximum Privacy
If you need AI capabilities without any data leaving your device, local AI is now a practical option:
- Ollama: Free, open-source tool that runs models like Llama 3, Mistral, and Phi locally. Works on Mac, Linux, and Windows. No internet required after download.
- LM Studio: User-friendly desktop app for running local AI models. Supports thousands of open-source models. Free for personal use.
- Apple Intelligence: Apple's on-device AI processes many requests locally. When cloud processing is needed, it uses Private Cloud Compute with strong privacy protections.
Local AI trades some capability for complete privacy. The latest open-source models are capable enough for most everyday tasks — writing, coding assistance, summarization, and brainstorming.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Can AI chatbots see my previous conversations?
Yes — most AI chatbots store your conversation history by default. ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini all retain your chats unless you explicitly disable history. Some platforms allow employees or contractors to review conversations for safety and quality. Always assume your AI conversations are stored and potentially readable.
Is it safe to paste code into ChatGPT or Copilot?
It depends on what the code contains. Never paste code that includes API keys, database credentials, proprietary algorithms, or customer data. For generic coding questions, the risk is low. Samsung banned ChatGPT after employees leaked proprietary source code through it. Use your company's approved AI tools with enterprise data protections when handling work code.
Does ChatGPT use my conversations to train its models?
By default, yes — OpenAI uses conversations from free and Plus users to train future models. You can opt out in Settings > Data Controls > 'Improve the model for everyone.' ChatGPT Team and Enterprise accounts do not use your data for training by default. Claude (Anthropic) does not train on conversations from paid API or Pro users.
What is the safest AI chatbot for privacy?
For maximum privacy, run an open-source model locally using tools like Ollama or LM Studio — your data never leaves your device. Among cloud AI services, Claude Pro and ChatGPT Enterprise offer the strongest privacy guarantees with no-training policies. For casual use, enabling ChatGPT's temporary chat mode or Claude's privacy controls significantly reduces exposure.
Can AI chatbots be used to steal my identity?
AI chatbots themselves won't steal your identity, but sharing personal information (full name, address, SSN, date of birth, financial details) creates a stored record that could be exposed in a data breach. Additionally, scammers use AI to craft convincing phishing emails and deepfake voice calls. Never share identity-sensitive information with any AI tool.
Should I use a VPN when using AI tools?
A VPN hides your IP address from the AI provider but does not protect the content of your conversations — the AI company still sees everything you type. A VPN is useful if you want to prevent your ISP from seeing that you use AI tools, or if you want to obscure your geographic location. For actual content privacy, focus on the platform's data settings rather than a VPN.