🤖 AI for Students · Lesson 5 of 6
Privacy with chatbots
What not to type into a chatbot, and why.
What you type may be saved
Many chatbots save conversations, and some use them to improve the AI. People at the company may read some of them. So write as if someone else could read it.
Don’t type
| Full name, address, school | Personal details |
|---|---|
| Passwords and codes | Never |
| Photos of yourself or friends | Especially faces and IDs |
| Health or family secrets | Talk to a real person |
| Friends’ private messages | Not yours to share |
A chatbot is not a friend
Some apps have AI “companions” that act like friends. They are programs designed to keep you chatting. If you feel sad, worried or lonely, talk to a real person you trust. If you are in crisis, call or text 988.
Settings
Check the app’s settings with a parent: can you turn off chat history or training on your conversations? School AI tools usually have stronger privacy protections — use those for schoolwork.
Tip
💡 Replace real names with made-up ones when asking for help: “My friend Alex…” instead of your friend’s real name.
✏️ Practice: your turn
- Open a chatbot’s settings with a parent and find the privacy options
- Rewrite a question so it has no personal details
- Discuss: why might a company want you to chat longer?
- Make a family list of what never goes into a chatbot
🧠 Quick quiz
Answer all 4 questions correctly to mark this lesson as done.
0 of 4 correct
All lessons in AI for Students
- 💡 1. What a chatbot isHow it “writes”, and why it sounds sure even when it is wrong
- 🎯 2. How to ask wellWho I am, what I need, and in what form
- 🔍 3. Checking the answerFacts, numbers and sources: how to know it is true
- 📚 4. Homework and honestyWhat is OK, what is not, and how to say you got help
- 🔒 5. Privacy with chatbotsWhat not to type into a chatbot, and why
- 🖼️ 6. Fake images and videosHow to spot AI-made pictures, and what not to share