Day 5: Does AI take your information? — LearnAI

Today's idea

Is it safe to tell an AI your bank account details or national ID number? (tap to see)

Everything you type and send to an AI goes to a company's servers. So it's safest not to share your national ID number, bank account or card details, any password, or anyone else's private medical details.

Stop personal details at the gate — let only the ordinary question reach the AI

Today's topic might sound a little scary, but really there's nothing to fear — you just need to be a little careful.

Imagine you walk into a shop and tell the assistant about your problem, asking for help. You'd give them the information they need, like what you're looking for. But you wouldn't tell them your ATM card PIN, would you? You need the same common sense when you talk to an AI.

Everything you type and send to an AI goes to a company's servers, and may be stored there in some form. So get help using the information you need, but it's safest not to share very personal and sensitive details. For example — your national ID number, your bank account or card details, any password, or anyone else's private medical details.

The good news is — you never need to share these things to use AI. You can describe just the problem, without names or identity details, and ask for help. For example, if you want to understand a doctor's report, type in the main findings but leave out the patient's name and national ID number. The same rule applies to photos — before you send a photo of a bill, a form or a report to an AI, cover the names, addresses, and ID or account numbers.

Keep this one simple rule in mind and you can use AI with peace of mind — with nothing to fear.

Try it yourself Time: 3 minutes

1.Open the Gemini or ChatGPT app.
2.Type and send the question below, so you get a list to keep for yourself:

In simple words, give me a short list of what I should be careful about when it comes to sharing personal information with an AI.
3.Compare what you get with this — is it mentioning national ID numbers, bank details, passwords, other people's medical details? Remember this list, or write it down.

Do it together Time: 5 minutes

With anyone — a child, a parent, a friend or a colleague.

Make a small rule together with the people you're doing this with today — family, friends or colleagues, anyone. Sit down together and write on a piece of paper a list of 3-4 things under the title "What we will never tell AI". Let everyone suggest one thing each. For example:

"We will never tell AI our national ID numbers, our full home or work address, or anyone's password."

Keep the paper near your phone or on your work desk, so everyone remembers.

We did this together

Today's key point

Use AI freely, but never type in things like bank details, your national ID number or a password.

Check yourself

Two quick questions from today's lesson.

1. What kind of information should you never give an AI?

2. What's a good thing to do if you want AI's help with a doctor's report?

Correct answer: Leave out names and identity details and type only the main information — give the information that's needed, but keep identity details protected.