2: ChatGPT: Managing privacy

2.1 Understand ChatGPT privacy policy

First lets try to understand Open AI (Parent company of ChatGPT) privacy policy and data usage FAQ. The easiest way to do this is ask ChatGPT itself with a simple prompt.

” Read OpenAI privacy policy from this link and explain key aspects related to how my personal data , chat is used, stored and processed by ChatGPT.
Link: https://help.openai.com/en/collections/6864268-privacy-and-policies “

Snapshot and detailed output are provided below. As you can see ChatGPT does store and process lot of your personal data for wider use then you might have imagined.

FULL OUTPUT (CLICK TO EXPAND)

Key Aspects of How OpenAI Handles Your Personal Data and Chats

1. Data Collection: OpenAI collects various types of personal data when you interact with their services, including:

• Account Information: Details you provide when creating an account.
• User Content: Text inputs (prompts), responses from the model, and any other data you submit during interactions.

2. Data Usage:

• Improving Services: Data from your interactions can be used to enhance and refine the performance of OpenAI’s models. This includes analyzing user inputs and responses to better understand user needs and improve the system’s responses.
• Support and Security: Data may be used to provide customer support and ensure the security and integrity of OpenAI’s services.

3. Data Storage:

• Location: Your data is stored on OpenAI systems and those of trusted service providers, which can be located globally.
• Security Measures: OpenAI implements measures to protect your data from unauthorized access and breaches.

4. Data Sharing:

• Service Providers: Data may be shared with a limited number of trusted third-party service providers to help deliver and improve OpenAI services. These providers are subject to strict confidentiality and security obligations.
• Legal and Business Transactions: Data may be shared if required by law or in the event of a business transaction, such as a merger or acquisition.
• No Marketing Use: OpenAI does not sell your data or use it for marketing purposes.

5. User Rights:

• Access and Deletion: You can access, modify, or delete your personal data through your account settings. Specific chat history can be cleared, and requests for account deletion can be made to prevent further use of services.
• Opt-Out: Users can opt out of having their data used to improve model performance.

6. Human Review:

• Limited Access: Authorized personnel or trusted service providers may review user content to provide support, investigate security issues, handle legal matters, or improve model performance. This access is controlled and monitored to ensure security.

For more detailed information, you can visit the OpenAI Privacy Policy and the Data Usage FAQ on their help center.

2.2 Temporary Chats

ChatGPT provides a option for temporary, incognito chats for a more private interaction. To enable this you need to navigate to your top left cornet in ChatGPT and select ‘Temporary Chat’ (Navigation might differ if you are using Android or iOS). Temporary chat ensures your chat interaction are not stored in history, memory and not used for model training.

2.3 Turn off model training (ie. “Improve the model for everyone”)?

In case you don’t want to use ‘Temporary Chat’ there is another option to disable ChatGPT from training its model with your data. To do this navigate to your profile icon in ChatGPT page and select Settings > Data Controls, and disable “Improve the model for everyone.” While this is disabled, your new conversations won’t be used to train ChatGPT models.

2.4 Raise a privacy request to OpenAI

OpenAI also provides a dedicated channel by where you can raise request for enhanced privacy requirements. To do this go to https://privacy.openai.com/policies and click ‘Make a Privacy Request’ on top right. Currently the following options are available.

3. Gemini: Managing privacy

3.1 Understand Gemini privacy policy

First lets try to understand Gemini Privacy Policy. The easiest way to do this is just put the privacy page link in Gemini chat and it will summarize for you.

” https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/13594961#privacy_notice “

Snapshot and detailed output are provided below. As you can see Gemini does store and process lot of your personal data for its wider use case then you might have imagined.

FULL OUTPUT (CLICK TO EXPAND)

Key Aspects of How Google Gemini Handles Your Personal Data and Chat

The Gemini Apps Privacy Notice details how Google collects, uses, and stores your data when you interact with Gemini Apps. Here’s a breakdown of the key aspects:

Data Collection:

• Conversations: Google stores your Gemini Apps conversations, along with related product usage information. This includes text, images, and other content shared within the chat.
• Location Information: Google may collect data about your location when you use Gemini Apps. This helps provide location-specific responses and improve location-based services.
• Feedback: Any feedback you provide about Gemini Apps is also collected.

Data Usage:

• Service Improvement: Your data is primarily used to improve and develop Google products and services, including Gemini Apps and machine learning technologies. This helps enhance the quality and relevance of responses, personalize experiences, and develop new features.
• Research: Google may use your data for research purposes to advance the field of artificial intelligence and natural language processing.
• Enterprise Products: Your data may be used to improve Google’s enterprise products, such as Google Cloud, to enhance their capabilities and offer better solutions to businesses.

Data Storage and Retention:

• Gemini Apps Activity: By default, if you’re 18 or older, your Gemini Apps activity is turned on, and Google stores it with your Google Account for up to 18 months. You can choose to turn this off.
• Conversations: If Gemini Apps Activity is off, Google still retains your conversations for up to 72 hours. These are used to maintain context, ensure safety and security, and make general improvements to the service.

Privacy Controls:

• Gemini Apps Activity: You can control whether your Gemini Apps activity is saved to your Google Account by turning it on or off in your settings.
• Delete Conversations: You can delete your Gemini Apps conversations at any time.
• My Activity: You can view and manage your Gemini Apps activity through your Google Account’s My Activity page.

Additional Considerations:

• Human Review: In some cases, Google employees or contractors may review your conversations to improve Gemini Apps. This is done with strict privacy safeguards in place.
• Third-Party Sharing: Google may share your data with trusted third parties who assist in providing and improving their services.

Overall, the Gemini Apps privacy policy aims to balance innovation and personalization with user privacy. By understanding how your data is used, you can make informed decisions about using Gemini Apps and adjust your privacy settings accordingly.

It’s important to note that this is just a summary. For a complete understanding, please refer to the full Gemini Apps Privacy Notice linked above.

3.2 Configure your Gemini App Activity

Unlike OpenAI ChatGPT, Google provides limited options to manage your personal data with Gemini.
Most of the privacy related configuration are tied to your parent Google account, which in turn is linked to all Google services like Chrome, YouTube, OneDrive etc. To mange your privacy setting ( and restictions) at Google account level go to your Google account dashboard and configure setting for each of the Google products you use.
Additionally to track your Gemini app activities and configure them go to Gemini App activity link. In Your Gemini Apps activity, you can at any time:

• Turn off Gemini Apps activity
• Review your prompts
• Delete your Gemini Apps activity
• Change auto-delete settings

Please note, even when Gemini Apps activity is off, your conversations will be saved with your Google account for up to 72 hours to allow Google to provide service and process any feedback.
Suppose you decide not to turn off Gemini App activity, its good to know how Google processes the files and pictures you create, upload in Gemini. For this refer the following links
Gemini app and you location
Gemini app and uploaded files
Gemini app and generated images
This will provide you the right knowledge ( and confidence) to manage your privacy in your Gemini integrations.