The honest answer: Online AI is not secretly watching you through your camera. But when you type into an online AI, the company receives what you type and usually keeps it for a while. You have choices: turn off some settings, be careful what you share, or run AI on your own computer so nothing leaves your house.
Two kinds of AI: online and on your own computer
| Online (cloud) AI | Local AI on your PC | |
|---|---|---|
| Examples | ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, Grok, Claude | Ollama with a free model like Llama, Gemma or Qwen |
| Where your words go | Sent over the internet to the company's computers | Stay on your computer |
| Who can see them | The company, under its privacy policy. Some chats may be reviewed by staff to improve the service. | Only people who use your computer |
| Works without internet | No | Yes, once it is set up |
| How smart | The smartest and fastest options | Good for everyday tasks. Smaller and a bit slower. |
| Cost | Free tiers, or a monthly fee for more | Free software. Uses the PC you already own. |
What online AI companies usually keep
- Your chats. Most keep your conversation history so you can come back to it. Many keep chats for a time even after you delete them, often for safety and abuse checks.
- Your account details. Email, name, and sometimes phone number.
- Basic device info. Like any website: browser, rough location from your internet connection, and when you used it.
- Files and photos you upload. If you share a picture of a letter, the company receives that picture.
Details change often, so read each company's privacy page. Look for the words "data controls," "training," and "retention."
Settings worth turning off
Menu names change, but the idea is the same everywhere. Look in Settings, then Privacy or Data controls.
- "Use my chats to improve the model" (or similar). Turn this off if you do not want your chats used for training. ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot, Grok and Claude all offer a version of this switch.
- Chat history or activity. Some apps let you turn history off, or use a temporary chat that is not saved to your list.
- Memory. Some AI apps remember facts about you across chats. You can view, delete or turn this off.
- Microphone and camera. On your phone or PC, you control which apps can use them. On Windows: Settings, Privacy and security, Microphone or Camera. On a phone: Settings, Privacy.
Is AI listening through my phone or camera?
An AI chat app can only hear you when you allow its microphone and press the button to talk. Phones show a small colored dot or icon when the microphone or camera is in use. If you see it and did not expect it, check which app is using it in your privacy settings.
Why local AI keeps everything private
A free program called Ollama lets you download an AI model onto your own Windows PC or Mac. After the download, it runs entirely on your machine. You can even unplug the internet and it still works.
That means your letters, health questions and family notes never go to a company. The trade off: local models are a bit less clever than the big online ones, and you need a reasonably modern PC. Many PCs with 16GB of memory can run a good small model. Check what your PC can run.
Simple privacy rules
- Do not type anything into online AI you would not put in an email to a stranger.
- Never share passwords, bank or card numbers, or your Social Security number with any AI.
- Black out account numbers before you photograph a letter for AI to read.
- For private things, use local AI on your own computer.
Optional, only if it helps
Gear that can make this easier
You do not need any of this to get started. These are simple add-ons that people often find helpful. Read reviews and check the return policy first.
Small mini PC for private AI
A quiet little computer that can run local AI like Ollama, if your current PC is too old.
See options on AmazonCommon questions
Is ChatGPT or other AI spying on me?
Not in the sense of secretly watching you. But online AI services receive and usually store what you type and upload, under their privacy policies. You can turn off training on your chats in settings, and avoid sharing private details.
Can I use AI without sending my data to a company?
Yes. Free software like Ollama runs AI models entirely on your own computer. After the model is downloaded, your chats stay on your PC and it works without internet.
Which privacy settings should I change?
Look for Settings, then Privacy or Data controls. Turn off using your chats to improve or train the model, review or turn off memory, and use temporary chats for anything sensitive.
Does deleting a chat erase it completely?
Not always right away. Many services keep deleted chats for a period for safety reviews. Check the company's privacy page for its retention time.
Who writes this: Blake, the guy behind AI Pick Vault. He has spent 47 years fixing things and sorting out PCs for regular people. He is 56 and still learning AI too, so these pages explain things the way he wishes someone had explained them to him.
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