Lesson 2.3 — Privacy settings in 5 minutes

AI for Dummies · Module 2: Getting started safely · About 20 min · Phone or computer

Goal: control whether your chats are used to train the AI, and delete chats.

What you'll learn

Many free AI tools may use your chats to improve their AI unless you switch it off. Names vary, roughly:

Tool	Where to look (may change)
ChatGPT	Settings → Data controls → "Improve the model for everyone"
Gemini	Gemini Apps Activity ("Keep activity")
Claude	Settings → Privacy → "Help improve…"
Copilot	Settings → Privacy (model training, ad personalisation)
Grok	Settings → Data controls

If you can't find it, ask the chatbot: "How do I stop my chats being used for training?"

Open your chat list, press and hold (phone) or click the ⋯ next to a chat, then choose Delete.

Some apps have a temporary or incognito chat that isn't saved to your history. Good for one-off questions.

Switch off training in your app (if you'd like to) and delete your test chat from 2.2.

Stay safe: Even with training off, companies may keep chats for a while for safety. So the rule stays the same: no private details in chats.

Stuck? Ask Brett or the Skills Coach. Screenshots help (cover private details).

1. Free AI tools may use your chats to… Train their AI Pay you Nothing at all

2. Does turning off training make it safe to paste your bank details? Yes No