Skip to content
FlintFlintby Torch
← Level 0Builder · L0

Set the privacy switches before you paste anything

Build-along · ~8 min at your own keyboard

Privacy here is four separate questions, and one toggle only answers the first. 1) Training: may the vendor use your chats to improve its models? Many let you turn that off; do it. 2) Storage: turning training off does not delete anything. Chats are still kept for a while, and you can delete them yourself. 3) Permission: if the information belongs to your employer, a client, or a customer, it is their call whether it goes into an outside tool. Check your employer's AI policy, client contracts, or any confidentiality agreement before you paste business documents. 4) Minimizing: send only what the task needs. Never paste Social Security numbers, passwords, or bank and card numbers. Replace names and account numbers with placeholders like [CLIENT] or [ACCOUNT] — the assistant can still do the work. The quick test: would I email this to a stranger? If not, trim it or leave it out.

Ladder · Level 0The long version: Privacy and what never to paste ↗

Mac: In the Mac desktop app, press Cmd-comma to open Settings, then choose Privacy or Data controls. In a browser, click your name or icon in the corner, then Settings. Do the same check in the phone app, since each app keeps its own copy of the view.

Windows: In the Windows desktop app, click your name at the bottom left or the gear icon, then Settings, then Privacy or Data controls. Copilot is tied to your Microsoft account: also visit account.microsoft.com/privacy and review the Copilot activity data there. Check the phone app separately.

Do this

0/6

Checkpoints

  • ▸You should now see the training or 'improve the model' toggle set to Off.
  • ▸You should now see a written list with two never-paste items, in your own words.
  • ▸You should now see one line saying who approves business documents going into the assistant.
The three ways this goes wrong
  • You cannot find the toggle. — Search the settings page for 'train' or 'improve'. On Gemini, look in Activity controls. On Copilot, look in Privacy settings in your Microsoft account. Business or work plans often have training off already -- check your plan page.
  • The toggle turns itself back on. — You may be signed in on a second account or device. Check each one. Then sign out and back in and verify again.
  • You are unsure if something is safe to paste. — Run the stranger test. If you hesitate, swap the sensitive piece for a placeholder like [NAME] or [ACCOUNT] and paste the rest.

Dated facts in this lesson: ChatGPT: the toggle "Improve the model for everyone" is in Settings > Data controls and is on by default. Secondary source (researched Oct 4, 2026, not yet confirmed by a person: check the source before you rely on it); Claude: the toggle "Help improve Claude" is in Settings > Privacy and is on by default for Free, Pro and Max. Secondary source (researched Oct 4, 2026, not yet confirmed by a person: check the source before you rely on it); Gemini: the setting "Keep Activity" is on by default. When on, chats may train models and may be reviewed by people. Turning it off disables some Workspace connectors (researched Oct 4, 2026, not yet confirmed by a person: check the source before you rely on it); Personal Copilot: the setting "Model training on text" (and a voice equivalent) is in the Privacy menu and is on by default. It does not apply to work accounts (researched Oct 4, 2026, not yet confirmed by a person: check the source before you rely on it); Grok plans: Free, SuperGrok Lite $10, SuperGrok $30, Heavy $300, Business $30 per seat. Secondary source. The training toggle name is not confirmed (researched Oct 4, 2026, not yet confirmed by a person: check the source before you rely on it); Perplexity plans: Free, Pro $20, Max $200, Enterprise Pro $40 per seat. Comet browser is free. Voice works on Free. Secondary source (researched Oct 4, 2026, not yet confirmed by a person: check the source before you rely on it).

Share what happened

Paste: which assistant, the name of the toggle you turned off, your own two never-paste items, your permission line, and how you sorted the three inbox items.

Strip API keys, passwords, and tokens before you paste. Swap them for [KEY].

🔒 Don't paste confidential, personal-health, or payment info.