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Keep your chats private
The 30-second version: most AI apps can use your chats to improve their AI unless you switch that off. Business plans usually don't use your data that way. Here's the switch for each one, plus a few simple habits.
Privacy switches and safety tips, app by app
ChatGPT
ChatGPT- Turn off training
- Settings → Data controls → turn off “Improve the model for everyone.”
- Private mode
- Temporary Chat: not saved in your history and not used for training. Kept up to 30 days for safety.
- Business plans
- Business, Enterprise, Edu and Healthcare aren't used for training by default.
- Health data (HIPAA)
- ChatGPT Business can't sign a BAA. ChatGPT for Healthcare and Enterprise (Regulated) can.
Claude
Claude- Turn off training
- Settings → Privacy → turn off “Help improve our AI models.”
- Private mode
- Incognito chats are never used for training.
- Business plans
- Team and Enterprise aren't trained on by default.
- Health data (HIPAA)
- A BAA is available on Enterprise (and the API), not on Team.
Gemini (Google)
Gemini (Google)- Turn off training
- gemini.google.com → Settings & help → Activity → Turn off. Chats are still held for up to 72 hours. Chats picked for human review can be kept up to 3 years.
- Private mode
- Temporary chats.
- Business plans
- Google Workspace data isn't used to train without permission.
- Health data (HIPAA)
- Google Workspace: Gemini in Workspace and the Gemini app (with a work account, not Gemini in Chrome) are covered under Google's BAA once your admin accepts it. Personal Google accounts aren't covered.
Microsoft Copilot
Microsoft Copilot- Turn off training
- Profile → Privacy → turn off “Training on conversation activity” and “Training on voice conversations.”
- Already not used for training
- Copilot inside Microsoft 365 Personal/Family apps, signed-out use, and under-18s.
- Business plans
- Work or school accounts get Enterprise Data Protection: not used to train foundation models. Admins can see logs.
- Health data (HIPAA)
- Work accounts: Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot are covered by Microsoft's BAA. Web search isn't covered, so turn it off for patient work. Personal and Family plans aren't covered.
Perplexity
Perplexity- Turn off training
- Account settings → Preferences → turn off “AI data retention” (it's on by default for Free, Pro and Max).
- Private mode
- None listed on the page we checked.
- Business plans
- Enterprise is never used for training. Uploaded files are kept 7 days.
- Health data (HIPAA)
- Not covered in the pages we checked.
Grok (xAI) and X
Grok (xAI) and X- Turn off training
- Grok app: Settings → Data Controls → turn off “Improve the model.” On grok.com: Settings → Data.
- On X, separately
- Settings & privacy → Privacy & safety → Data sharing and personalization → Grok & Third-party Collaborators → turn off data sharing.
- Private mode
- Private Chat (the ghost icon) isn't used for training.
- Business plans
- Business and enterprise use isn't used for training.
The thumbs-up catch
Rating an answer with thumbs up or down can send that conversation to the company for training, even if you've turned training off. Skip the thumbs on anything private.
Never paste these into any AI
- Passwords and login codes
- Social Security numbers
- Credit card or bank account numbers
- Health records
- Client files or anything you promised to keep confidential
Our everyday checklist, based on the vendor pages above
Kids and family
- ChatGPT: 13+ with a parent's permission. Parents can link accounts, set quiet hours, turn off voice and images, and manage memory and training. They can't read their teen's chats.
- Gemini: kids under 13 can use it through a Family Link-managed Google account.
- Claude: 18+ only.
- Copilot: chats from under-18s aren't used for training.
Study and learning modes
Use AI as a tutor, not an answer machine. The best study tools ask your child questions and walk through each step, instead of handing over the answer. Two good ones are free.
- ChatGPT study mode (free): asks questions instead of just giving answers. It's on every plan, including Free. With parental controls, you can set Study hours so new chats start in study mode.
- Gemini Guided Learning (free): tutor-style help when your child is signed in to their Google account.
- Khanmigo ($4/month or $44/year): a tutor from Khan Academy. One parent plan covers up to 10 kids under 18. You can see chat history and get safety alerts. US only.
Age rules
- ChatGPT: 13 and up. Ages 13 to 17 need a parent's OK.
- Gemini: 13 and up with their own account. For under-13s, a parent can switch it on in Family Link (not in the EU, UK or Switzerland).
- Claude: 18 and up only.
- Khanmigo: kids use it through a parent's account.
Parent controls
- ChatGPT: link your account to your teen's. You can set Quiet hours and Study hours, and turn memory, voice and image making on or off. You can't read their chats, but you may get safety alerts.
- ChatGPT training: teen chats can be used to train ChatGPT unless a parent turns that off. Turn off "Improve the model for everyone" in Settings, then Parental controls.
- Google Family Link: switch Gemini on or off for each child. Works on Android phones and Chromebooks, not iPhones.
- iPhone and iPad: Screen Time can block the ChatGPT extension, writing help, math help and image making (Settings, then Family).
Try this together: "Quiz me on this chapter, one question at a time." Or: "Explain the first step, then let me try the next one."
Watch out for fake AI apps
Ads for fake AI software have been used to spread malware. Download only from the company's official site or its verified app, and skip sponsored search results.
General information only. Not legal, compliance, or security advice. Settings and menus change, so follow the official page if it looks different.