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You can reduce what an AI assistant learns about you, but a setting that disables model training does not necessarily erase chats or stop all processing. Start by sharing only the information a task needs, then review training, history, retention, connected-app, and account controls separately.
What should you do before entering information into an AI assistant?
Minimize what you share. Ask whether the assistant needs each identifying detail to complete the task. If it does not, remove or replace it before sending your prompt or uploading a file.
- Replace names with labels such as “Client A” and remove account numbers, addresses, and other identifiers.
- Share a short, relevant excerpt rather than an entire private document when possible.
- Use a synthetic example if you only need help with wording, structure, or a general problem.
- Review screenshots, voice or video input, uploaded files, shared links, and any content you plan to send as feedback.
These steps reduce unnecessary exposure; they do not guarantee that the information you do submit will never be processed or retained. Service settings and policies still matter.
Which privacy controls should you check?
Treat these as separate controls, not one privacy switch. Their names and availability may vary by provider, account, plan, workspace, and region.
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- Model improvement or training: Check whether conversations may be used to improve models and how to opt out.
- Chat history and deletion: Determine whether conversations remain in history and how to remove them. Disabling training may leave saved chats intact.
- Memory and personalization: Review whether the assistant can retain details to personalize future responses.
- Temporary chat: Check what the temporary mode changes and how long chats may still be retained.
- Activity and auto-delete: Find the activity history and retention options for the account.
- Connected apps and permissions: Review what sources the assistant can access, and disconnect integrations you do not need.
How do ChatGPT data controls work?
For signed-in ChatGPT users on the web, OpenAI lists the setting at Settings > Data controls > Improve the model for everyone. Turning it off means new conversations are not used to train models, but they may still appear in chat history. To remove saved conversations from history, delete them separately. Availability can depend on account, plan, and workspace settings. See OpenAI’s Data Controls FAQ.
Temporary chats
OpenAI says temporary chats do not appear in history, do not create or update memories, and are not used to improve models while they remain temporary. They may be retained for up to 30 days for safety. If you save a temporary chat, it becomes a regular chat and follows ordinary account settings. Details are in OpenAI’s Data Controls FAQ.
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Feedback and managed accounts
OpenAI says that submitting feedback may make the entire conversation associated with it eligible for training, even if you have opted out. OpenAI also says Business, Enterprise, Edu, and API inputs and outputs are not used to improve models by default. That default does not replace your organization’s rules for access, retention, or handling sensitive information. See OpenAI’s explanation of how data is used to improve model performance.
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How do Gemini activity and connected apps affect privacy?
Google’s Gemini Apps Privacy Hub says users can review or delete activity and change auto-delete from the default 18 months to 3 months, 36 months, or indefinite. Chats reviewed by human reviewers and related data may be retained for up to three years, even after activity is deleted. Turning Keep Activity off does not stop Google from using chats to respond and help protect users. See the Gemini Apps Privacy Hub.
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Temporary chats and Keep Activity off
Google says temporary chats and chats made while Keep Activity is off are retained with the account for 72 hours to respond, process feedback, and protect Google, users, and the public. Temporary chats are not used to train Google AI. When Keep Activity is off, future chats are not used to improve AI models if you do not submit feedback. Consult the Gemini Apps Privacy Hub for the current details.
Connected apps
When Keep Activity is on, Gemini activity that includes connected-app data may be used to improve Google services, including training generative AI models. Google distinguishes training directly on entire connected stores from using relevant summaries, excerpts, generated media, or inferences; in some cases, a summary may effectively contain the underlying email or file. Disconnecting an app does not delete Gemini Apps Activity. Google advises against connecting apps that contain personal or confidential information you would not want used for training. Read Google’s explanation of personalization with Connected Apps.
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What should you do with a work or school AI account?
Confirm that you are using the organization-managed account and follow your employer’s or school’s rules before entering sensitive material. OpenAI says Business, Enterprise, Edu, and ChatGPT for Healthcare workspace content is not used for training by default, but organizational policies still govern retention, access, and permitted use. Ask the workspace administrator which rules apply to your account.
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A practical privacy check before each AI task
- Limit the input. Remove unnecessary personal details and use the smallest excerpt or example that will work.
- Check the account. Confirm whether you are in a personal or managed workspace and follow its data-handling rules.
- Review the relevant controls. Check training, history, memory, temporary mode, and activity settings individually.
- Limit access. Inspect connected apps and permissions, and consider whether an upload, screenshot, voice input, or shared link reveals more than the task requires.
- Decide what to keep. Delete chats or activity separately if you want to remove items from history, where the service offers that option.
- Recheck current terms. Provider controls and retention practices can change, so consult the provider’s help pages for your account and region.
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