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What never to type into an AI chatbot

6 min · essential
Why this matters. What you type into a chatbot is sent to the company's servers, may be kept for a long time, and depending on your settings may be read by reviewers or used to train future models. Accounts also get hacked. The safe habit is simple: don't type anything you wouldn't be comfortable seeing leaked.
1

Never paste these

Passwords and verification codes, Social Security or passport numbers, bank and card details, full medical records, tax returns, your home address with your routine, and photos or details of your children.

2

Be careful with work

Don't paste confidential work documents, customer data or code into personal AI accounts. Many employers have rules, or an approved company version, for this.

3

Strip it down

You can usually get the same help with details removed: say 'my bank' not the bank's name and account number, 'my child, age 9' not their name and school.

4

Output is a draft

Read everything before you send, sign or act on it. You're responsible for what goes out under your name.

Check your understanding

Is it OK to paste a password into a chatbot to ask if it's strong?

No. Never paste a real password anywhere but the real login page or your password manager.

How can you get help with a sensitive letter safely?

Remove names, numbers and identifying details first, then add them back yourself afterwards.

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Checked against: FTC: Artificial intelligence (consumer advice) · last reviewed 2026-09