AI and Privacy

Introduction

As AI systems become increasingly integrated into our daily lives, understanding how these tools collect, store, and use our personal information is essential for protecting ourselves. From voice assistants listening in our homes to chatbots remembering our conversations, AI raises new questions about data security and digital boundaries. These curated resources will help you understand what information AI systems may access, how to adjust privacy settings, and practical steps for maintaining control over your personal data while still benefiting from AI tools.

What You Need to Know

Using AI safely means understanding both what happens to our information and how to protect ourselves while getting the most out of these tools. Privacy and safety are connected—the more thoughtfully we manage what we share, the safer our AI experience will be.

Our conversations are stored. When we interact with AI chatbots, our conversations are typically saved on company servers, at least temporarily. These may be reviewed by employees for quality control and used to improve future AI models. The practical implication: assume anything we type could potentially be seen by someone at the company. This isn't sinister—it's how the technology improves—but we need to be aware of it.

Different companies have different policies. AI providers vary significantly in how they handle our data. Some, like Anthropic (which makes Claude), offer settings to limit data retention and opt out of having our conversations used for training. Others may be less transparent. Reading privacy policies is tedious, but for tools we use regularly, it's important.

Our data shapes future AI. When AI companies use conversations for training, our interactions—anonymized and aggregated—may influence how the AI responds to future users. We are contributing to a collective resource, for better or worse.

AI remembers within a conversation. During a single conversation, AI remembers everything we've shared. This is useful for continuity but means sensitive information we mention early remains accessible throughout the chat. Some platforms now offer memory features that persist across conversations, which adds convenience but also increases what's retained about us.

Voice and smart home devices add layers of complexity. Voice assistants may be listening more than we realize, and their data practices vary. Some record and store audio; some send data to third parties. The convenience of hands-free AI comes with privacy trade-offs worth understanding.

Our information can be connected in unexpected ways. AI systems are good at finding patterns. Sharing seemingly innocuous details across multiple conversations could, in aggregate, reveal more about us than we intended. This isn't a reason for paranoia, but it's a reason to be careful.

Public AI tools aren't secure channels. AI chatbots are not appropriate places to share highly sensitive information—not because the companies are malicious, but because these systems weren't designed as secure repositories for confidential data.

What You Need to Do

Treat AI conversations as semi-public. A good rule of thumb: don't share anything with AI that we wouldn't say in a coffee shop where others might overhear. Passwords, Social Security numbers, financial account details, sensitive medical information, and private family matters are best kept out of AI chats.

Be vague when specifics aren't necessary. We can often get helpful responses without identifying details. "My teenage grandson" works as well as "My grandson Tommy who attends Lincoln High School." "A city in the Midwest" may suffice instead of our exact address. Share what's needed for helpful responses, not more.

Use privacy settings. Most AI platforms offer settings to control data retention and usage. Take a few minutes to explore these options. Look for settings related to conversation history, training data opt-outs, and memory features. Adjust them to appropriate comfort levels.

Use incognito or private modes for sensitive topics. Some AI platforms offer conversation modes that aren't stored or used for training. To discuss something more personal—a health concern, a family conflict, a financial worry—consider using these modes.

Create separate accounts if helpful. Some people use different accounts or platforms for different purposes—one for casual questions, another for more personal conversations. This keeps information more compartmentalized.

Log out and clear history periodically. When sharing a device with others, log out of AI platforms when done. Periodically clearing conversation history removes stored data from our account (though it won't affect data already used for training).

Be cautious with AI apps requesting broad permissions. If an AI app asks for access to contacts, photos, location, or other data, consider whether that access is actually necessary for what you want to do. Grant only the permissions that make sense.

Secure accounts. Use strong, unique passwords for AI platforms, just as we would for email or banking. Enable two-factor authentication if available. AI conversation history can reveal a lot about us if accessed by someone else.

Keep devices physically secure. When we use voice assistants or AI on our phones, physical access to the device could mean access to our AI history. Use screen locks and keep devices secure.

Review our AI conversation histories. Be aware when perhaps topics of conversation were mentioned that should have remained private. This awareness helps us make more intentional choices going forward.

Ask questions and stay informed. AI privacy practices are evolving. Companies update policies, new regulations emerge, and best practices change. Staying curious and asking questions—of AI providers, of news sources, of people we trust—helps us adapt as the landscape shifts.

Balance caution with usefulness. Perfect privacy and maximum AI helpfulness exist in tension. We don't need to be fearful, just careful. Decide what trade-offs make sense for our lives, and adjust as we learn more. The goal is confident, informed use—not anxious avoidance.