Privacy basics
What not to paste, and the settings worth changing.
What you type into an AI tool is sent to the company that runs it. Most are careful with it, but it's worth a simple rule: don't paste anything you wouldn't email to a stranger at that company.
Never paste
- Passwords, PINs, verification codes.
- Card numbers, bank details, ID or passport numbers.
- Medical records or other people's private information.
- Confidential work documents, unless your employer has approved the tool.
Safer habits
- Remove names and numbers before pasting: "Customer A" instead of a real name.
- Summarise instead of pasting when you can.
- Use your work's approved tool for work: many companies have Microsoft Copilot or a business plan with stronger privacy terms.
Settings worth a look
Most chatbots have a setting that controls whether your chats can be used to improve their models. Look in Settings → Data controls or Privacy, and switch it off if you prefer. Many also let you delete your chat history.
Free vs paid
Free plans and personal accounts often have different data terms from business plans. If you handle client data, check the plan's privacy terms or ask whoever handles IT where you work.
Offline option
If you need full privacy, some AI models can run on your own computer, offline. Nuvelorb has a setup for that: "Private AI on your own PC".
Key takeaways
- Never paste passwords, card or ID numbers, or other people's private data.
- Remove names and numbers, or summarise instead of pasting.
- Check the data-controls setting and use approved tools at work.
Try it now
Open the settings of the chatbot you use most. Find the data or privacy section and decide whether to turn off chat history or model training.
Open ChatGPTFree · paid from $20/moYou've got it when: You know where the data setting is and have chosen what you want.