Have you ever wondered how AI becomes more intelligent and provides you with better responses every day? It’s natural, as AI models train every second, using petabytes of data to learn and improve. However, where do they get that data? What happens to the info you upload to ChatGPT, and is it safe to use AI at all? In this article, we break down the topic into understandable concepts and figure out the rules of AI usage safety.

Sources of data for AI or How AI receives your data behind your back

AI model developers usually speak about the outstanding features of the tools they create and the even more opportunities AI will be able to offer us in the not-so-distant future. However, they aren’t that talkative when it comes to disclosing data sources they use to train their models. Usually, you can hear general phrases like “Publicly available data on the Net,” “Licensed from third parties,” or “Proprietary data,” but what does it mean?

“Publicly available data on the Net” refers to data you can find simply using search engines. That includes data from websites and social media platforms. For example, AI has it if you have ever posted something on Instagram. You may delete your posts or photos from your feed, but it won’t automatically erase them from AI-used datasets.

On the other hand, you must scrape the web 24/7 and have suitable infrastructure and qualified staff to get that much data. Sometimes, getting all the data you want by yourself is hard, so companies can buy info from other companies that specialize in web scraping. In other words, AI creators get licensed from third parties. What data can it be exactly? Any kind you can imagine. Such databases may include even details from medical reports or location data. The problem is that some companies aren’t really selective when compiling datasets, and even leaked, hacked, or other illegally derived sensitive data can be sold.

“Proprietary data” is data that companies collect and generate themselves. It includes content you, as a user, generate and data you upload. It’s not only about queries you type or images you upload. AI models gather other data, such as your computer ID, contact info, search history, product interaction data, and others.

Luckily, you can control this part, at least to some degree. Here, a lot depends on the actual model you use. For example, Copilot, Jasper, and Poe collect device IDs and data used to track users. That data can then end up in the hands of data brokers or help display targeted ads in apps. Jasper goes further than that, collecting product interaction, advertising, and other usage data, which means all details regarding your activity in the app. 

ChatGPT looks a bit more reliable than others as it collects only 10 types of data out of 35 possible. It doesn’t track data or use third-party advertising within the app. You can use temporary chats with an autodelete function or request to remove your personal data. However, it can still store your chats on its servers. You can manually turn off that function. On the other hand, it’s unclear whether it applies retrospectively to older chats.

Of course, it’s impossible to leave out DeepSeek. The Chinese AI model has become a game changer since day one of its launch, and it may look relatively safe as the model collects only 11 types of data. However, there is a serious red flag – DeepSeek stores users’ chat history. Not only is there a risk of servers being hacked and your data stolen, but there is also a risk of your data ending up in the hands of the Chinese government. In China, authorities have control over the Internet, and companies and providers are obliged to provide data upon request. Besides, according to Hacker News, DeepSeek has already faced data leaks. As a result, over one million chats, API keys, and other sensitive data were exposed.

Interesting fact: Amazon, Samsung, and many banks prohibited their employees from using AI tools for work. Samsung did it after a worker uploaded a piece of sensitive code. The severity of the event is still a question, but Samsung is worried about the unclear fate of leaked data. Amazon decided to avoid AI after it turned out that examples of ChatGPT responses resembled Amazon’s internal data.

How to protect yourself?

If you’re already thinking about throwing away all the gadgets and going to live in a forest, calm down – there is no need to. Some simple yet effective rules can help you protect your data from being collected and used by AI against your will:

• Check the permissions of apps you install and the AI bots you use. If an app asks for too many permissions, stores your info, or there is no way you can request to remove your data, consider deleting such an app from your gadget altogether and using a safer alternative. This advice especially goes for apps that ask for permissions they don’t need to work correctly. For example, a video editor sure needs access to your gallery, but why would it need to know about your contacts or geolocation? Think about it.
• When installing an app, allow as few permissions as possible. If you can prohibit something and an app still works fine, do it.  
• Don’t tick boxes—it’s better to read the Privacy Policy, Terms of Service, and other documents before installing apps so you know how this particular app will handle your data or whether it can disclose information to third parties.
• Check the country of origin of apps you’re about to download. Remember that countries like China have strict censorship, and companies and providers there must cooperate with the government upon request, including providing users’ data. If you are not fine with this, avoid such tools.
• Install only official apps from authorized stores and avoid hacked or unofficial versions. Such apps may be a trap to get your data.
• Be careful with what you upload on the Net. If you like to keep your social media followers updated about your life, never accidentally disclose any personal data.
• Be careful while using public Wi-Fi or free proxies. Such things may be used to get your data. Better avoid it at all. If you need to use a public network, consider adding a VPN for security. Reliable providers like ZoogVPN will hide your location and data, keeping you safe. If you are looking for proxies, DataImpulse will help you overcome IP rate limits and geo-based blocks without draining your wallet. Besides, when you use proxies, they act as intermediaries between you and the server you’re requesting. Proxies connect in your place, preventing you from direct contact. As a result, your data stays safe, as apps and bots see proxies’ info. That further improves your security.
• Don’t upload sensitive data like API keys, passwords, PIN codes, document scans, credit cards, or other financial details to AI chatbots.

To wrap up

In the age of AI, data is the target, and security is getting to a new level. Besides, even if you don’t use AI, it can still have your data through other apps and other ways. So, learning how to use bots, assistants, and apps without jeopardizing your sensitive info is essential. You can also use additional tools, such as proxies. As they send requests in your place, your data remains hidden, making it harder to collect and use. DataImpulse is ready to have your back with our fair price of $1 per 1 GB and 24/7 human support (no AI bots) so you can focus solely on your tasks without worrying about safety and privacy. Press the “Try now” button at the top-right bottom of the screen or write to us at [email protected] to start.