Is ChatGPT Safe to Use? What You Need to Know

Is ChatGPT safe to use? The short answer: ChatGPT is generally safe for everyday use, but it's not private. OpenAI collects and stores your conversations, may use them for training, and human reviewers can access them. Never share sensitive personal, financial, or confidential information.

What Data Does ChatGPT Collect?

Conversation Content

Everything you type into ChatGPT is collected:

• Your prompts and questions
• Any information you share in context
• Files you upload
• Images you share (with GPT-4V)

This data is stored on OpenAI's servers and associated with your account.

Account Information

• Email address
• Name (if provided)
• Payment information (for Plus subscribers)
• Phone number (if used for verification)

Technical Data

• IP address
• Browser and device information
• Usage patterns and timestamps
• Location data (approximate)

Use our [AI Privacy Checker](/tools/ai-privacy-checker) to understand what data you're sharing.

How OpenAI Uses Your Data

Model Training

By default, your conversations may be used to train and improve future AI models. This means:

• Your prompts help shape how future models respond
• Your data becomes part of the training dataset
• You can opt out, but must do so explicitly

Human Review

OpenAI employees and contractors may review conversations for:

• Safety and abuse prevention
• Model improvement
• Policy enforcement
• Quality assurance

This isn't constant monitoring, but assume any conversation could potentially be reviewed.

Third-Party Sharing

OpenAI states they don't sell personal data, but they may share:

• With service providers who help operate the platform
• When legally required
• In aggregated, anonymized form for research

Privacy Settings You Should Know

Disable Chat History Training

In ChatGPT settings, you can turn off "Chat history & training":

• Conversations won't be used for model training
• History won't be saved (disappears when you close)
• You lose conversation history feature

This is the single most important privacy setting.

Data Export and Deletion

You have the right to:

• Export all your ChatGPT data
• Delete your conversation history
• Request account deletion

To export: Settings > Data Controls > Export Data

To delete conversations: Settings > Data Controls > Delete All Chats

Use the API Instead

The ChatGPT API offers more privacy:

• Data not used for training by default
• Shorter retention periods available
• More control over data handling
• No human review (in most cases)

For sensitive use cases, the API is more private than the consumer product.

What NOT to Put in ChatGPT

Never Share

Personal identifiers:

• Social Security numbers
• Driver's license numbers
• Passport information
• Date of birth + full name combinations

Financial information:

• Bank account numbers
• Credit card details
• Tax information
• Investment account details

Health information:

• Medical records
• Diagnoses
• Mental health details
• Insurance information

Work confidential:

• Trade secrets
• Client data
• Proprietary code
• Internal documents
• Unreleased product information

Credentials:

• Passwords
• API keys
• Security codes
• Private encryption keys

Use our [AI Data Exposure Checker](/tools/ai-data-exposure-checker) to evaluate what's safe to share.

Think Before Sharing

Personal details:

• Reduce identifying information
• Use hypotheticals instead of real situations
• Anonymize names and locations

Work materials:

• Check your company's AI policy
• Anonymize client information
• Don't share anything marked confidential

Creative work:

• Unpublished manuscripts
• Business ideas you want to protect
• Original research before publication

Comparing AI Chatbot Privacy

ChatGPT (OpenAI)

• Stores conversations by default
• Uses data for training (opt-out available)
• Human review possible
• API offers better privacy

Claude (Anthropic)

• Similar data collection
• Doesn't train on conversations by default
• Constitutional AI approach
• API-first with better data controls

Google Bard/Gemini

• Connected to Google account
• May use data across Google services
• More integrated with your Google data
• Activity controls available

Microsoft Copilot

• Connected to Microsoft account
• Enterprise versions offer more privacy
• Consumer version similar to ChatGPT
• Check workplace policies

Practical Privacy Tips

For Personal Use

1. Create a separate email for AI chatbot accounts
2. Turn off chat history training in settings
3. Regularly delete conversations you don't need
4. Never share identifying information
5. Use incognito/private browsing for sensitive topics
6. Consider the API for more privacy

For Work Use

1. Check your company's AI policy first
2. Use enterprise versions when available
3. Never share client data or confidential info
4. Anonymize everything you must share
5. Document your AI usage if required
6. Use approved tools only

For Sensitive Topics

1. Be vague about specifics - describe situations generally
2. Use hypotheticals - "Imagine someone who..."
3. Avoid identifying details - change names, locations, dates
4. Consider alternatives - for medical/legal, consult professionals

The Bottom Line

ChatGPT is safe for everyday use - getting help with writing, learning concepts, brainstorming ideas, and general assistance. It's not safe for:

• Anything you'd be uncomfortable with a stranger reading
• Information that could identify you or others
• Confidential work or client information
• Sensitive personal, financial, or health details

The golden rule: If you wouldn't post it publicly online, don't put it in ChatGPT.

Use these tools wisely, take advantage of privacy settings, and treat AI chatbots as helpful assistants with big ears - useful but not confidential.

Use our [AI Privacy Checker](/tools/ai-privacy-checker) to evaluate your AI usage and get personalized privacy recommendations.