How To Use Generative AI While Protecting Privacy

Every time we use generative artificial intelligence, we litter the network with our sensitive data; here’s how to avoid it.

The widespread diffusion of generative artificial intelligence has created a series of essential debates on various topics, such as the duplication of content, the sources and validity of information, and privacy and the protection of our data.

The uses of these new tools are extensive and applicable to any area of ​​everyday life, which is why it is essential to understand how to make the most of them, avoiding risks and problems. In particular, it is necessary to know that the conversations or images we upload are saved and added to the dataset to help the algorithm learn and improve.

We are talking about, among the most popular big names, ChatGPT and Google Bard, and in this article, we will discover how to use them while keeping personal data and privacy safe.

Check The Privacy Policy Before Use

Before choosing any AI-based application, it is crucial to carefully review the terms and conditions of use, including the privacy policy. This is a valid indication for any service or site we sign up for, especially if it is something new or about which we need to be entirely sure.

Using an app means giving the company behind it rights to everything you enter, including personal information and data. The way in which the data is stored and exploited is always written in the first few windows when we land on the site, but the reference page should be checked now and then because the policies can change.

OpenAI ‘s privacy policy, for example, provides details about data collection and how account data, input information, and everything else is used. Google Bard uses straightforward, informal language to communicate how it collects and uses information to improve its products and services, including machine learning technologies.

In general, a clear and robust privacy policy should provide information on:

• Collection of information: What information is collected from users, such as login data, information about the use of the service, and technical data?
• Use of Information: How will the information collected be used, such as to improve the service, personalize the user experience, or conduct analytics?
• Information sharing: whether and how data may be shared with third parties, such as business partners or competent authorities.
• Security: Measures taken to protect personal information from unauthorized access or improper use.
• Cookies and similar technologies: Explains the use of cookies or other tracking technologies and provides options for user control.
• User Rights: Informs users of their rights regarding their personal information, including rights to access, modify, and delete.

It is advisable to avoid uploading sensitive data or personal images for processing by AI-based tools. Everything that is inserted into these tools could be used to improve the service and subsequently exploited for other purposes. As with most online sites, there is also the risk of data breach, i.e., a data breach or leak into an untrustworthy environment, to consider.

Be careful, especially when inserting photos and images with recognizable faces, because due to the very nature of the tools, they could be found in other people’s creations. It is better to avoid inserting and having personal, private, or sensitive information regarding people or companies processed in texts generated by AI (such as financial information, personal addresses, and so on).

Change The Settings

Once you are sure of the privacy policy and are careful about what information to share, you can look at the privacy and security settings within the AI-powered tools.

For example, Google Bard allows users to choose whether to automatically delete conversation data after a certain period, delete it manually, or keep it indefinitely. As for ChatGPT, you can change your settings by clicking on your profile picture with your first and last name at the bottom left. By going into Data Control, you can prevent the tool from leveraging your conversations to train its models, but this results in the loss of the chat history feature.

Also Read: Chrome: New AI-Powered Features Coming Soon