Consumers have many questions about popular artificial intelligence (AI) tools. Is AI safe to use? Will AI violate my privacy? Such concerns are legitimate for those relying on AI tools to help with everyday tasks.
Many people are starting to use ChatGPT, Gemini, and/or Claude to do research, track tasks, and tackle other work and household issues. These powerful tools rely on AI to create specifically tailored responses to each inquiry.
The very act of typing information into a public chatbot means losing some control over any information being disclosed by a consumer. Many AI tools use what the information typed into it and the files shared with it to help better train the model to become even “smarter.” The model, then, is always finding ways to improve how it interacts with consumers as well as the results provided in real time to help users with tasks. Unless you explicitly “opt out” based on settings found within the specific AI tool, personal conversations may be stored and analyzed. If you’re using the free version, you may not be able to opt out of your information being used to train the model. Also, keep in mind that, just as a medical office or at a retail chain storing your information can be compromised by a data breach, so can AI tools.
AI platforms may also infer personal details about you based on your questions and responses, which might trigger advertising of targeted products and services. And if you have other accounts associated with the parent company of the AI chatbot, there could be information shared cross-platform. For example, if you’re using Google Gemini, it may also cross-reference your account information and activities in other Google products and services, such as your Gmail account.
Here are some tips to help protect yourself when using AI platforms:
- Avoid disclosing personal identifying information into AI tools. For example, be careful not to include names, addresses, account numbers, and Social Security numbers. Consider whether you would share this information with a stranger: If you wouldn’t, don’t share it with an AI chatbot.
- Review the AI tool’s privacy policy and account settings. Look for options such as one that turns off model training. This should help prevent your conversations from being saved and from being used to help refine the AI tool’s performance. Some chatbots provide enhanced privacy options such as “incognito” modes or “temporary” chats that won’t be retained in the AI platform’s system.
- Be especially careful with free versions of AI tools. Enterprise or paid versions of AI chatbots may include stricter data-processing agreements to help prevent your data from being ingested into the public model.
- Know that most of the major AI platforms allow you to use a basic version without signing in or linking your chat to the personal information you may have stored in your account. However, that doesn’t mean it won’t use the information you provide to train the model.
- Most AI platforms allow you to delete old chats. If you have any second thoughts about information you have already shared, delete the old chat. Be aware that AI platforms may vary in how quickly or completely your chats are deleted from their databases.
- Understand that apps you already interact with may currently be integrating AI. If you get a notification or hear that AI is now part of an app and you don’t want the AI tool to have access to or be trained on your information, check the app settings to see whether opting out is an option.
If you suspect a scam or an unfair business practice, contact the Ohio Attorney General's Office at www.OhioProtects.org or 800-282-0515.