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AI Safety and Privacy: What You Need to Know Before You Start

Via Faber Team

— 5 min read
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AI Safety and Privacy: What You Need to Know Before You Start

Last updated: May 2026

Prices verified as of May 2026.

Before you start using AI for anything personal or important, you deserve straight answers about safety and privacy. Not vague corporate reassurances — actual practical guidance about what's safe to share, what to keep private, and how these tools handle your data.

This isn't a scare piece. AI tools are genuinely safe for most uses. But a few minutes of understanding will help you use them confidently.

The Quick Safety Summary

If you're in a hurry, here's what you need to know:

  • AI tools cannot access your computer, accounts, or files unless you explicitly upload something
  • Other users cannot see your conversations
  • Never share: passwords, Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, credit card numbers
  • Be cautious with: confidential business data, personal health details, legal situations involving other people
  • Generally safe to share: general questions, writing projects, planning tasks, learning requests

Want more detail? Keep reading.

What AI Tools Can and Cannot Do

AI CANNOT:

  • Access your email, bank accounts, or social media
  • See your browsing history or other apps
  • Send messages to anyone on your behalf
  • Access your camera or microphone (unless you explicitly use voice/video features)
  • Install anything on your computer
  • Share your conversations with other users

AI CAN:

  • Remember what you say within a single conversation
  • Read documents/images you explicitly upload
  • Store your conversation history (viewable only by you)
  • Use your conversations to improve its models (free tiers — see details below)

How Each Tool Handles Your Data

Tool Free Tier Data Usage Paid Tier Data Usage Opt-Out Available?
ChatGPT Conversations may be used for model training Not used for training by default (Plus/Pro) Yes — Settings → Data Controls → toggle off
Claude May be used for safety research and model improvement Not used for training (Pro/Max/Team) Pro plan and above — automatic
Google Gemini Conversations may be reviewed and used for improvement Google Workspace plans offer enhanced privacy Yes — Gemini Apps Activity settings

What does "used for model training" mean in practice? It means the company might use your conversations (stripped of identifying information) to help make the AI better at responding. It does NOT mean a human is reading your chats, or that your data is shared with other users or companies.

If this concerns you, there are two easy solutions:

  1. Toggle off data sharing in your account settings (available on all platforms)
  2. Upgrade to a paid plan where training opt-out is automatic

What's Safe to Share with AI

Generally Safe (Low Risk)

  • General knowledge questions ("How do I fix a leaky faucet?")
  • Writing tasks with non-sensitive content
  • Planning and brainstorming
  • Learning and studying
  • Creative projects
  • Public information about companies or people

Use Caution (Medium Risk)

  • Personal financial details (debts, income — fine for budgeting help, but don't share account numbers)
  • Health information (okay for general questions, but remember AI isn't a doctor)
  • Work documents (check your employer's AI policy first)
  • Information about other people (be mindful of their privacy)
  • Legal situations (AI can help you understand options, but isn't legal advice)

Never Share (High Risk)

  • Passwords or login credentials
  • Social Security numbers
  • Credit card or bank account numbers
  • Government-issued ID numbers
  • Medical record numbers
  • Someone else's private information without their consent

AI and Children: What Parents Need to Know

If your kids are using AI (and statistically, many teens are), here are the key safety points:

  • Age requirements: ChatGPT requires users to be 13+. Claude requires 18+ (or 13+ with parental consent). Gemini is 18+ for personal accounts.
  • No personal info: Teach kids never to share their name, school, address, or photos with AI tools.
  • AI can generate inappropriate content: While major tools have safety filters, they're not perfect. Younger kids should use AI with a parent present.
  • AI can be wrong: Kids need to understand that AI can state incorrect things confidently. Teach them to verify important information.
  • Academic integrity: Using AI to do homework (rather than help learn) can backfire. See our guide on your school's AI policy for more detail.

For a complete framework, see our Family AI Agreement Template.

Common Safety Concerns (Addressed Honestly)

"Will AI steal my business idea?"
No. AI tools don't share your information with competitors. But if you're working on genuinely confidential IP, consider using a paid plan (where data isn't used for training) or keep the most sensitive details out of the conversation.

"Can someone hack my AI account and read my conversations?"
The risk is similar to any online account. Use a strong password and enable two-factor authentication if available. The companies use standard security measures to protect accounts.

"Is AI going to take my job?"
This is a bigger question than privacy, but here's the relevant safety point: AI is much more likely to change your job than eliminate it. Learning to use AI is actually protective of your career. The people most at risk are those who refuse to learn.

"What about AI-generated scams?"
Yes, scammers use AI too. Be wary of unusually well-written phishing emails. The same rules still apply: don't click suspicious links, don't share personal info with strangers, verify unexpected requests through a different channel.

"Can AI give dangerous advice?"
Major AI tools have safety measures to refuse genuinely harmful requests. But they can give bad advice on topics like medicine, law, or finance — not because they're malicious, but because they can be wrong. For serious decisions, always consult a real professional.

Practical Safety Checklist

Before using AI for a new type of task, ask yourself:

  1. Would I be comfortable if this information appeared on a public website? If no → don't share it with AI on a free tier.
  2. Am I sharing someone else's private information? If yes → get their consent or anonymize it.
  3. Am I relying on AI for a high-stakes decision (medical, legal, financial)? If yes → use AI as a starting point, but verify with a real professional.
  4. Am I at work? If yes → check your company's AI policy before uploading internal documents.

The Bottom Line

AI tools are safe for the vast majority of everyday use. You don't need to be paranoid. But a little awareness goes a long way:

  • Don't share secrets you wouldn't tell a stranger
  • Verify important facts and advice
  • Use paid tiers if privacy is a priority
  • Teach kids the basics before they use it unsupervised

Now that you know the ground rules, you can use AI confidently. The risk of missing out on the benefits is arguably bigger than the privacy risks of normal use.

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