AI WORLDHow to use AI safely with your personal information
Learn how to keep your private details secure while enjoying the benefits of modern AI assistants.
Want to use smart AI tools without accidentally sharing your private life with the world? This guide will show you exactly how to protect your personal details while still getting the most out of AI.
- An active account on any popular AI tool (such as ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini).
- A basic task in mind, like drafting an email or sorting a household budget.
Understand the "postcard rule"
The golden rule of using AI is simple: treat everything you type into a chat window like writing on a postcard. If you would not want a stranger reading it at the post office, do not send it to an AI.
Most AI systems use your conversations for data training (the process where an AI company uses your past chats to teach their computer models how to write and think better). Think of it like letting a student read your old letters so they can learn how to write their own.
Organise your settings and opt out of training
Almost all major AI platforms allow you to turn off data training. When you switch this off, the company still processes your requests, but they promise not to use your chat history to train future versions of their system.
Because websites change their layouts often, look for a general area to adjust this:
- Find a button like Settings, often represented by a gear icon in the corner of your screen.
- Search for a section labelled Privacy, Data Controls, or Chat History.
- Toggle off any option that says Improve the model for everyone or Allow model training.
Sanitise your text before copying and pasting
"Sanitising" means cleaning your text to remove names, phone numbers, email addresses, or financial figures before you feed them to the AI. It is your strongest defence against data leaks.
You can easily swap out real details with generic placeholders. The AI will still understand the context perfectly.
Original: "Hi Sarah, can you please transfer the $450 refund for the project at 12 High St to my Commonwealth account?"
Sanitised version: "Hi [Name], can you please transfer the [Amount] refund for the project at [Address] to my [Bank] account?"
Use temporary chats for sensitive tasks
If you need to discuss a sensitive topic—like brainstorming a tricky work situation or sorting out a personal issue—look for a temporary chat option.
Some tools call this "Temporary Chat" or "Incognito Mode". It works like write-on, wipe-off ink: once you close the window, the conversation is deleted from your history forever.
- Uploading complete PDF documents without checking: Many people upload entire utility bills or tax documents for the AI to summarise. These files often contain private tax file numbers or account passwords.
- Treating the AI like a diary: Do not use the chat box to vent about specific people or share highly emotional, identifiable personal secrets.
- Assuming "deleted" means instant removal: When you delete a chat from your history sidebar, the AI company may still keep a copy on their secure servers for a short period to check for harmful content.
Open your favourite AI tool right now. Navigate to the Settings menu, find the Data Controls or Privacy tab, and toggle off Model Training. This simple action takes less than a minute and instantly secures your future chats.
✦ Original step-by-step guide by AI World Co.'s AI editorial team. Written in plain language, reviewed for accuracy.
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