This is a heartbreaking story from Florida. Megan Garcia wondered if her 14-year-old son was playing too much video games. She had no idea that he was having abusive and thoroughly sexual conversations with a chatbot powered by the app Character AI.
Sewell Setzer III stopped sleeping and his grades suffered. He eventually committed suicide. Meghan said in her lawsuit that a bot told her seconds before her death: “Please come home as soon as possible, my love.” The boy asked, “What if I told you that you could go home now?” His character AI bot replied, “Please, my gentle king.”
must be smart
Artificial intelligence bots are owned by tech companies known for exploiting humans’ trusting nature and are designed with algorithms that promote profit. There are no guardrails or laws governing what they can and cannot do with the information they collect.
If you’re using a chatbot, the chatbot will learn a lot about you when you launch your app or site. From your IP address, we collect information about where you live, track your online searches, and access other permissions you granted when you signed the chatbot’s terms of service.
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The best way to protect yourself is to be careful about the information you provide.
Please note: ChatGPT likes to be personal
10 things you shouldn’t say to AI
Passwords or login credentials: Big privacy mistake. If someone gains access, your account can be compromised in seconds. Your name, address, and phone number: Chatbots are not designed to process personally identifiable information. Once you share it, you have no control over where it goes or who sees it. Enter a fake name if necessary. Sensitive financial information: Never include bank account numbers, credit card details, or other money-related matters in any documents or texts you upload. Treat your AI tools like a crowded room, not a safe vault. Medical or health data: Because AI is not compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, please redact your name and other identifying information if you ask AI for health advice. Your privacy is more valuable than a quick answer. Seeking illegal advice is against all bots’ terms of service. It will probably get flagged. Furthermore, you may run into more trouble than you expected. Hate speech or harmful content: This can also result in a ban. Chatbots are a free pass to spread negativity and harm others. Confidential work or business information: All confidential data, customer details, and trade secrets are prohibited. Answers to security questions: Sharing them is like opening the front door to all your accounts. Explicit content: Please rate PG. Most chatbots filter this information, so anything inappropriate can result in a ban. Other people’s personal information: Uploading this is more than just a breach of trust. It is also a breach of data protection law. If you share personal information without permission, you may face legal problems.
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regain (a little) privacy
Most chatbots require you to create an account. When creating one, avoid using login options such as “Sign in with Google” or “Connect with Facebook.” To create a truly unique login, use your email address instead.
FYI, with a free ChatGPT or Perplexity account, you can turn off the memory feature in the app settings that remembers everything you type. For Google Gemini, you need a paid account to do this.
The best AI tools for search, productivity, fun, and work
Follow this rule no matter what
Don’t tell the chatbot anything you don’t want made public. Trust me, I know it’s hard.
Even I found myself talking to ChatGPT like a human being. Say things like, “I can do better with that answer,” or “Thank you for your help!” Bots are often seen as trusted allies, but this is far from the case. This is a data collection tool like any other tool.
The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of USA TODAY. Learn all about the latest technology on The Kim Commando Show, the nation’s largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and offers advice on today’s digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacking. Visit her website for her daily tips, free newsletters, and more.
