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FlintFlintby Torch
← Level 2Builder · L2

Let it find things in your files (and keep the rest out)

Build-along · ~25 min at your own keyboard

You can give an assistant a set of your own files and ask it to find things. This is the fastest way to stop hunting through folders. It has two risks. First, it can answer wrongly in a confident tone. So make it cite the file it used for every answer, and check one citation yourself by opening the file. Second, whatever you upload leaves your computer. Decide before you upload what stays out. Write a keep-out list: client Social Security numbers, bank and card details, health information, anything under an NDA, and passwords. Upload 3 to 10 files you can afford to share. The keep-out list is the part of this lesson that protects you.

Ladder · Level 2The long version: Context ↗

Do this

0/7

Checkpoints

  • ▸You should now see a workspace with 3 to 10 files listed in it.
  • ▸You should now see answers that each name a file they came from.
  • ▸You should now see a written keep-out list and a short list of files you held back.
The three ways this goes wrong
  • The assistant answers without naming a file, or names a file that is not in the workspace. — Ask again with the rule: 'Name the exact file and section for each answer. If you cannot, say you cannot.' Then check the name against your file list. A made-up source means do not trust that answer.
  • You find a private detail in a file you already uploaded. — Remove the file from the workspace now. Check the vendor's delete options. Fix the source file, then upload the clean version. Add the item to your keep-out list.
  • The workspace says it cannot read a file, or answers from only part of it. — Check the file type. Try a PDF or plain text copy. Split very large files into parts. Ask 'Which files did you read?' to see what it actually used.

Dated facts in this lesson: ChatGPT has Saved memories, Reference chat history and Custom instructions, with the toggles under Settings > Personalization. Projects hold their own files and instructions (researched Oct 4, 2026, not yet confirmed by a person: check the source before you rely on it); Claude has an editable Memory and an 'Instructions for Claude' (personal preferences) setting, on Free, Pro and Max. Projects hold files and instructions, and Free gets 5 projects (researched Oct 4, 2026, not yet confirmed by a person: check the source before you rely on it); Gemini has 'Personal context' (on by default, needs Keep Activity) and 'Saved info'. Gems are being replaced by Skills, with conflicting rollout dates in October and November 2026 (researched Oct 4, 2026, not yet confirmed by a person: check the source before you rely on it); Consumer Copilot has Memory and Personalization in its settings. Copilot Notebooks hold files and instructions and come with Microsoft 365 Personal, Family or Premium (researched Oct 4, 2026, not yet confirmed by a person: check the source before you rely on it); Grok has 'Personalize with Memories' under Data Controls, and Projects that hold files and instructions (researched Oct 4, 2026, not yet confirmed by a person: check the source before you rely on it); Perplexity has Memory, including on Free. Spaces hold files and instructions: Pro allows 50 files per Space, and Spaces are not on Free (researched Oct 4, 2026, not yet confirmed by a person: check the source before you rely on it).

Share what happened

Paste: (1) one question you asked and the answer with its cited file, (2) your hand check: which file you opened and whether it matched, and (3) your keep-out list plus what you did NOT upload and why. Do not paste any private data.

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

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