Artificial intelligence (AI) has moved from research labs to the hands of the general public. AI tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Claude have become everyday tools for professionals, students, and businesses. However, along with their impressive capabilities, serious questions arise about the security and privacy of the data we “feed” into these systems. So how can someone harness the power of AI without putting their personal or corporate data at risk?
The illusion of privacy
Many users assume that their interaction with a chatbot is private – a secure conversation between a human and a machine. In reality, most AI models collect and store data for training, improvement, or analysis by third parties.
See also: AI Chatbot Abuse to Access Sensitive Data
A notable example came in 2023, when Samsung employees leaked sensitive code and technical documents to ChatGPT, thinking the conversation was confidential. In fact, the data was used to train the model, causing alarm at the company and strict restrictions on the use of AI tools.
This proves that every time you type something into a chatbot, you should consider it public – unless the service explicitly offers you a “private mode” or “enterprise mode” with encryption and no data storage.
What does “safe use” of an AI tool mean?
Safe use isn't just about what you write, it's also about how you write it. Some practices that drastically reduce the risk of data leaks include:
- Never enter sensitive personal or financial information.
Do not write card numbers, tax numbers, internal codes or customer information. - Avoid copying confidential documents or contracts.
AI models don't forget easily. A snippet you enter can be used indirectly in future responses. - Use “anonymization” techniques.
If you need to ask for help on a sensitive project, change names, dates, or company details. - Check their privacy policies.
Platforms like OpenAI and Anthropic offer “opt-out” options for using your data for training. If you don’t, you automatically consent to their use. - Opt for professional or “enterprise” versions.
These versions, such as ChatGPT Team or Copilot for Business, offer end-to-end encryption, audit logging, and separation of corporate data from the public model.
See also: AI: Russia's new cyberweapon in the war against Ukraine
Companies are moving into the era of “AI governance”
Businesses are now developing governance policies to protect their data. These policies define who can use AI tools, what data is allowed to be shared, and how compliance is monitored.
At the same time, special “AI security gateways” platforms are emerging that act as a firewall between the organization and the AI tools. They automatically detect if a user attempts to enter sensitive information and hide it or reject the request.
This need is intensifying, as LLMs (Large Language Models) are now a new field of attack: “prompt injection”, “data poisoning” and “model exfiltration” are the new terms that scare cybersecurity managers.
The role of regulators
The European Union, through the AI Act, is already promoting strict rules for the transparency of AI systems. Tools that collect or use personal data must clearly inform users about how they are storing and training. Similarly, organizations such as NIST in the US and ENISA in Europe are issuing guidelines for the safe development and use of AI models.
See also: CodeMender: Google's new AI agent enhances security
These regulations don't just restrict how companies operate; they ensure that the AI revolution doesn't turn into a privacy nightmare.
The responsibility passes to the user
Artificial intelligence is neither dangerous nor completely safe – it is a neutral technology. How we use it determines the risk. Just as we don't leave our personal data exposed on the internet, we shouldn't blindly trust it to a chatbot, no matter how "smart" it seems.
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The strongest defense is information: knowing how the models work, what data they collect, and what settings protect us. Only then can we harness AI safely, responsibly, and in control – without sacrificing our privacy on the altar of innovation.
