Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more

Before sharing anything personal with an AI companion, check the current privacy notice and in-app controls for the exact app, feature, account type, and region you plan to use. AI companions do not all collect or use data the same way. A useful check covers what you provide, what the app creates from it, who can access it, how long each category is kept, and what deletion or privacy controls actually do.

1. Identify the exact app and account you are checking

Start by recording the app name and publisher, the version or date you reviewed its settings, your country or region, and whether you are signed in. Note whether you use a free, paid, school, business, or API account. Privacy terms and controls can differ by product and account context. For example, OpenAI’s US consumer privacy policy distinguishes consumer services from data processed on behalf of business and API customers: OpenAI’s US privacy policy.

Check the notice that applies to the feature you intend to use, not just the general policy. Voice, image, video, memory, and connected-app features may involve data or providers that a text-only chat does not.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

2. Make an inventory of what the app may receive or create

Search the privacy notice and feature settings for each category below. Treat data you submit, data collected from your device or connected services, and data generated from your use as separate items.

#1 Best Overall
Z01 AI Companion Digital Badge, Smart Wearable HD Touch Screen Bluetooth 6.0 Translator, No Subscription AI Assistant for Travel Business Daily Use
  • 【AI Companion with 101-Language AI】 More than a translator, ZNP Z01 is a wearable AI companion designed to make everyday life easier. Enjoy AI conversations in 101 languages and get help with personalized reminders, breathing exercises, script outlines, text translation, everyday questions, and more. Compact and discreet, it keeps intelligent assistance within easy reach throughout your day.
  • 【Real-Time Translation in 60 Languages】 Communicate more naturally wherever you go with real-time translation across 60 languages. ZNP Z01 is built for international travel, business meetings, multilingual conversations, and everyday communication, helping you understand and connect across language barriers with greater confidence.
  • 【Wearable & Portable Design】 Take your AI companion anywhere. The lightweight e-badge can be worn around your neck with the included lanyard, attached to clothing or a bag, or carried in your pocket. Bluetooth connectivity keeps Z01 conveniently connected to your smartphone, making AI assistance accessible while traveling, commuting, working, or exploring.
  • 【Privacy-Focused Local Processing】 Keep your conversations and personal information closer to you with privacy-focused local processing. Supported translation and AI interactions are processed directly on the device without cloud uploads, providing an added layer of privacy for personal conversations, travel, work, and everyday use.
  • 【Touchscreen Personalization + Saymi AI】 The magnetic HD touchscreen provides intuitive control for everyday use, while the BagiBagi App unlocks the built-in Saymi AI Assistant. Ask for nearby attractions or restaurants, get travel information and practical tips, manage reminders, and personalize your e-badge with custom wallpapers using your own photos.
  • Conversation content: prompts and chat text, including text entered through speech-to-text.
  • Audio and video: recordings, transcripts, live voice or video, and any screen shared for context.
  • Files and images: photos, documents, imported chats, generated images, and other media you upload or create.
  • Account information: profile fields, birth date, contact details, payment information, and transaction records.
  • Device and usage signals: browser, app, device, diagnostic, interaction, and location data.
  • Connected services and permissions: information accessed through contacts, messages, installed apps, location, or screen-context permissions.
  • Derived content: saved memories, summaries, and inferences made from your conversations.

Google’s Gemini Apps Privacy Notice, last updated June 29, 2026, is one example of a feature-specific inventory: it lists prompts and spoken tasks, files and photos, Gemini Live transcripts and recordings, instructions, generated content and summaries, app, browser and device information, permissions and device data, location, and subscription information. Google says data from connected third-party services is handled under those services’ own privacy policies. Those disclosures describe Gemini Apps, not every companion or assistant. See Google’s Gemini Apps Privacy Notice.

3. Find out why data is used and who receives it

For each category that matters to you, look for its purpose and recipients. Answer these questions from the notice rather than assuming a feature is used only to respond to your prompt:

  • Is the data needed to operate the service, personalize responses, or maintain a memory?
  • Can it be used for model improvement or training, safety review, analytics, engagement measurement, or advertising?
  • Which model, voice, image, hosting, analytics, and billing providers may receive it?
  • Can a person review it, and under what conditions?

The Federal Trade Commission’s AI Companion 6(b) Order Template identifies useful disclosure areas to check, including data categories and inferences, purposes, storage, retention, deletion, access, third-party sharing, and monitoring.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #2
Sale
Peslv Nano‑Suction Privacy Screen for Surface Pro 12th/11/10/9/8/X 13 Inch
  • 【COMPATIBILITY】Designed for the 13-inch Surface Pro 12th11/10/9/8/X released in 2019-2026, with precise dimensions and a perfect fit. If you have questions about product dimensions, please contact us or ask a question. We have 24-hour online professional pre-sales and after-sales customer service to ensure you have a satisfactory shopping experience.
  • 【EASY TO INSTALL】Peslv has innovatively designed a new installation method - MagicSuction. We designed nano-adsorption strips on the four sides of the Surface privacy screen. Just align it with the Surface screen frame and press it gently, and it can be installed in one second. With Peslv Privacy Screen Surface Pro 13 inch, you will never be in the embarrassing situation of not knowing how to install it!
  • 【ABSOLUTE PRIVACY PROTECTION】Peslv Surface Pro 13inch privacy screen uses the most advanced grating technology, and conducts quality inspection on every factory Surface pro privacy screen, so that the contents of the laptop are only visible from the front, filtering side views to ensure the security of your data.
  • 【PROTECT SCREEN AND EYES】Surface pro privacy screen 13 inch uses AG anti-glare technology imported from Germany and base material imported from Japan. The frosted surface layer effectively intercepts 95% of reflected light and glare; the high-quality filter layer can filter 92% of blue light; the anti-scratch layer prevents scratches during daily use. Protect your screen while protecting your eyesight.
  • 【SUPER PORTABLE】 The privacy screen Surface pro 10 13 inch adopts the most advanced nano-adsorption process, which has strong adsorption force and is removable, washable, and reusable. The four-sided adsorption perfectly solves the problem of the bottom lifting. Package contents include a storage clip for easy storage of the Surface screen protector. A great Surface accessory to protect your screen privacy in public.

Human review and provider access

Do not assume that “private” means no human or service-provider access. Google’s Gemini notice says some collected data is reviewed by people, including trained service-provider reviewers, for service purposes. It warns: “Please don’t enter confidential information that you wouldn’t want a reviewer to see or Google to use to improve our services, including machine-learning technologies.” This warning concerns Gemini Apps; check the applicable notice for any other service.

OpenAI says consumer content may be used to improve model performance depending on settings, and describes limited access by authorized personnel and service providers for specified purposes. Its consumer-services explanation is specific to OpenAI: How OpenAI handles data in consumer services.

4. Check what the privacy controls actually change

Look in account settings for controls related to model improvement or training, chat history, temporary sessions, memory and personalization, data export and deletion, connected apps, microphone, camera and screen access, and advertising where applicable. For each control, determine whether it stops future collection, future use, or deletes data already stored. Those are different outcomes.

For example, OpenAI says temporary chats do not appear in chat history, do not create or update memories, and are not used to improve models while temporary. It also says a copy may be retained for safety for up to 30 days. This is OpenAI-specific behavior, not a general rule for temporary or private modes in other apps. Check the feature’s current terms and whether connected features remain active.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

5. Check retention and deletion separately for each data type

Look for the retention period and the event that starts it. A policy may treat active accounts differently from closed accounts, and deleted chats differently from saved memories, uploads, safety logs, payment records, and backups. Check whether deletion reaches processors and backups, how long that takes, and what legal, security, or safety exceptions apply. Also look for data that may already have been de-identified.

As one service-specific example, OpenAI’s US privacy policy says data selected for deletion is removed within 30 days, subject to described legal, security, and other exceptions; it also says some data may already have been de-identified and disassociated. Do not treat that timeframe as a promise about another provider or every data category. Read the policy that applies to your account and region: OpenAI’s US privacy policy.

Rank #4
Z01 Smart AI Companion Digital Badge, Wearable HD Touch Screen Bluetooth 6.0 Translator, No Subscription AI Assistant for Travel Business Daily Use
  • 【AI Companion with 101-Language AI】 More than a translator, ZNP Z01 is a wearable AI companion designed to make everyday life easier. Enjoy AI conversations in 101 languages and get help with personalized reminders, breathing exercises, script outlines, text translation, everyday questions, and more. Compact and discreet, it keeps intelligent assistance within easy reach throughout your day.
  • 【Real-Time Translation in 60 Languages】 Communicate more naturally wherever you go with real-time translation across 60 languages. ZNP Z01 is built for international travel, business meetings, multilingual conversations, and everyday communication, helping you understand and connect across language barriers with greater confidence.
  • 【Wearable & Portable Design】 Take your AI companion anywhere. The lightweight e-badge can be worn around your neck with the included lanyard, attached to clothing or a bag, or carried in your pocket. Bluetooth connectivity keeps Z01 conveniently connected to your smartphone, making AI assistance accessible while traveling, commuting, working, or exploring.
  • 【Privacy-Focused Local Processing】 Keep your conversations and personal information closer to you with privacy-focused local processing. Supported translation and AI interactions are processed directly on the device without cloud uploads, providing an added layer of privacy for personal conversations, travel, work, and everyday use.
  • 【Touchscreen Personalization + Saymi AI】 The magnetic HD touchscreen provides intuitive control for everyday use, while the BagiBagi App unlocks the built-in Saymi AI Assistant. Ask for nearby attractions or restaurants, get travel information and practical tips, manage reminders, and personalize your e-badge with custom wallpapers using your own photos.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

6. Check age, region, and account-specific protections

If a child or teen may use the app, check the minimum age, age-verification or age-assurance process, defaults for younger users, parental controls, and whether a parent or guardian can request access or deletion. The FTC’s September 10, 2025 resolution says AI companions “are designed to communicate like a friend or trusted confidant” and that children “may be more inclined to share sensitive personal information.” Its inquiry addresses inputs, third-party sharing, monetization, and disclosures: FTC Generative AI 6(b) resolution.

Privacy rights, retention terms, and available controls may also depend on where you live and which account type you use. Use the region-specific notice and the provider’s relevant privacy-rights channels rather than relying on a policy for a different jurisdiction.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

7. Compare services using the same questions

If you are deciding between companions, compare their disclosures on a consistent basis. A single favorable setting is not enough to establish that a service is private if other features, retention periods, or recipients are unclear.

What to compare What to establish
Inputs Which text, audio, video, files, device signals, permissions, and connected-service data are collected?
Secondary use Are data used for personalization, model improvement, safety, analytics, advertising, or other purposes, and what are the defaults?
Access Which employees, reviewers, service providers, or other vendors can access the data, and under what conditions?
Memory and inferences What is saved or inferred, and can you inspect, edit, disable, or delete it?
Retention and deletion How long are chats, memories, uploads, account records, and backups kept, and what exceptions apply?
Permissions and connections Which device permissions and connected apps are involved, and which other privacy policies govern their data?
Age safeguards What age rules, age-specific defaults, parental tools, and guardian deletion options apply?
Disclosure clarity Does the notice answer these questions for the feature, account, and region you will use?

Before you share anything sensitive

If a notice does not answer a material question, ask the provider before sharing sensitive details, or choose a service with clearer disclosures. In particular, do not assume that deleting a chat also deletes a saved memory, uploaded file, account record, or backup; verify each category and control in the applicable terms.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.