Your data and AI: a plain-language privacy checklist
What happens to what you type, which settings matter and when to keep information out of a chat window altogether.
AI assistants are only as useful as the context you give them. That makes privacy a practical question, not an abstract one. A few minutes with your settings goes a long way.
Check whether your chats train the model
Most consumer assistants let you choose whether your conversations can be used to improve future models. Find the setting, decide deliberately and revisit it when you change plans. Business and enterprise plans usually exclude your data from training by default.
Know how long chats are kept
Retention periods differ between products and plans. Deleting a conversation removes it from your history, but providers may keep copies for a period for safety and legal reasons. Read the retention section of the privacy policy once.
Be careful with connectors
Connecting email, files or calendars makes an assistant far more capable. It also widens what it can see. Connect only what a task needs, and review connected apps every few months.
Keep some things out
- Passwords, recovery codes and API keys.
- Full card numbers, bank details and government ID numbers.
- Other people's personal information you have no right to share.
- Confidential work data, unless your employer has approved the tool.
Share context generously. Share secrets never.
Used thoughtfully, AI tools can be both useful and respectful of your privacy. The defaults are a starting point, not a decision.
