Your privacy and AI chatbots

As people continue to discover many different uses for artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots in their everyday lives, it is important to be aware that the information that you are putting in may be collected and stored. Here are ways to be strategic in how you use AI chatbots to help protect your personal information and your privacy.

Key tips when you are using AI chatbots:

• limit the personal information that you share about yourself;
• do not share sensitive or identifiable personal information;
• alter personal details, for example, use aliases for names, change any identifiable details;
• if the AI chatbot allows, consider deleting your chat history;
• review and adjust your privacy settings and use strong passwords;
• do not share personal information about other people; and
• never share pictures or personal information of minors.

Potential risks of how AI chatbots may be using the personal information that you put into them:

• the information may be collected and stored. In some cases, the platforms may not clearly explain how personal information is used, stored, or where it may be shared;
• it may be used to further train the AI system;
• it may be used to create profiles about you or to make decisions about you;
• it may not be clear how it could be used in the future; and
• an AI chatbot could disclose the information that it has learned about you to other users.

Just like most other online activities, you should consider limiting the personal information that you share about yourself with AI chatbots – it is important to put your privacy first.