Is it OK to put this into AI? — Protecting your information
Once you type it in, it's out of your hands, and pieces point to you when they're combined.
1 · Think first
Starting today, the story changes a bit. So far it was "What It Can Do"; from here on it's "What to Watch Out For." And the first answer is this — put things in assuming that once you type it in, it's out of your hands.
Leave out things that can pinpoint you, like your name, address, phone number or passwords, and then ask. Keep only what you're asking about, and the answer comes out the same.
Be even more careful with info that isn't yours. Where your friend's face or contact info ends up isn't your call to make.
2 · Experiment · Pick one
Try it — Is it OK to put this into AI?
Here are six situations. Before you put something in, think just once: is it OK if this stays in someone else's hands?
Pick one of the two. If it's unclear, ask yourself: could I leave it out and still ask?
Figure
Pieces point to you when they're combined
Each piece on its own says nothing, but stick a few together and it narrows down to one person.
3 · Quiz
Quick check
Three questions. Pick an answer and it's marked right away, with the reason why.
Today in one line
Today in one line
Once you type it in, it's out of your hands,
and pieces point to you when they're combined.
Learn more
- Run by South Korea's Personal Information Protection Commission — people in Korea can use it to check where their information has been used (in Korean) — Privacy Portal (Personal Information Protection Commission, Korea)
- Google's official guide to how your conversations with Gemini are used, and how to turn that off — Gemini Apps Privacy Hub (Google)
- The company that makes the AI explains in its own words whether what you type is used for training — How do you use personal data in model training? (Anthropic)