AI tools can help with writing, research, planning, and voice conversations, but the risk starts when you install the wrong app, share too much, or trust an answer without checking it. The safest way to use AI in 2026 is to start with official apps, control history and memory, limit device access, and verify answers that matter.
1. Start with an official AI app
Use the official web app or download page before you sign in, upload files, or install anything.
For ChatGPT, open ChatGPT.com in a browser, or use https://chatgpt.com/download/ > iOS, Android, macOS, or Windows instead of a third-party download portal.
For Claude, visit claude.ai in a browser, or use https://claude.com/download > macOS, Windows, Windows arm64, ChromeOS, Linux, iOS, or Android.
2. Write prompts that get useful answers
This fixes vague, generic, or off-target AI replies.
- 1.Open your AI tool: ChatGPT.com, gemini.google.com, copilot.microsoft.com, or claude.ai.
- 2.Enter your question or prompt in the message box, prompt box, or text box, then submit it.
- 3.In ChatGPT, use Settings > Personalization > Custom Instructions, turn Enable customization on, and enter instructions in the Custom Instructions field for more consistent replies.
- 4.In Gemini, tap Regenerate below the most recent response on web, or tap More > Other drafts > Regenerate on mobile.
- 5.Ask Gemini to simplify, shorten, expand, or change the tone when the answer needs a different shape.
3. Keep private prompts out of long term history
For one-off or sensitive ChatGPT questions, open a new chat and click the pill-shaped Temporary button in the top-right corner.
Temporary Chats do not appear in history, do not create memories, and are not used for training.
In Claude, start a new chat outside a project and click the ghost icon in the upper-right corner to use an incognito chat that is excluded from past-chat search.
4. Turn off training and activity storage you do not want
In ChatGPT on the web while signed in, open your profile icon > Settings > Data Controls, then turn off Improve the model for everyone.
When using ChatGPT while signed out, click the ? icon > Settings, then turn off Improve the model for everyone.
In ChatGPT mobile, open the side-bar menu > profile icon > Data Controls, then turn off Improve the model for everyone.
In the Gemini mobile app on Android, tap Menu > your Profile picture or initial > Gemini Apps Activity, then near the top tap On > Turn off or Turn off and delete activity.
On the Gemini web app, go to gemini.google.com > Menu > Settings & help > Activity, then tap On > Turn off or Turn off and delete activity.
Use the same Gemini Activity page to manage or delete saved activity.
In Copilot on the web at copilot.com, signed in with a personal Microsoft Account, open profile icon > profile name > Privacy, then control Training on conversation activity and Training on voice conversations.
In Copilot for Windows or macOS, open profile icon > Settings > Privacy, then control Training on conversation activity and Training on voice conversations. These are consumer Copilot controls; Microsoft 365 Copilot on a work or school (Entra ID) account is governed by your organization's Enterprise Data Protection settings instead.
5. Control memory before it shapes future chats
In ChatGPT, go to Settings > Personalization > Memory to turn Memory on or off.
To manage ChatGPT's current memory summary, go to Settings > Personalization > Memory Summary > Manage > triple dot menu > Refresh.
On copilot.com and in Copilot for Windows or macOS, open profile icon > profile name > Memory > Personalization and memory. In the Edge sidebar, use the sidebar menu ... > Settings > Memory > Personalization and memory.
In Copilot mobile, open menu > profile icon > Memory > Personalization and memory.
In Claude's current memory experience, open Settings > Memory, then switch Search and reference chats on or off. If your account is still on the legacy experience, the same toggle sits under Settings > Capabilities in the Preferences section.
To remove a Claude conversation, open the conversation, click the conversation name, then choose Delete.
To bulk delete Claude chats, open Chats in the left sidebar, select conversations, then choose Delete Selected.
Keep memory on only when you want the tool to reuse past context.
6. Check sources before you trust the answer
For current information in Claude, click the slider icon in the chat input, find Web search, and switch the toggle on. Web search works only with supported Claude models, and on a Team or Enterprise account an Owner or Primary Owner must enable it for the workspace first in Admin settings > Capabilities.
After Claude uses web search, review the cited source links and the original websites.
In Gemini, click the Sources button at the bottom of a response or open inline source links, then review the right-side panel links.
Do not rely on Claude as a single source of truth for high-stakes medical, legal, financial, or safety-sensitive advice.
7. Limit voice camera location and screen access
This fixes accidental sharing through microphones, camera access, screen sharing, browser tabs, location, and notifications.
In ChatGPT Voice, use the microphone control to mute or unmute and the exit control to end the conversation.
In ChatGPT Advanced Voice on eligible iOS and Android accounts, use the camera button to start or stop live video.
To stop ChatGPT screen sharing, select the screen-sharing control again or use your device system screen-sharing controls.
For ChatGPT search, open Settings > Data controls > Location Services to control location sharing.
In your browser, click the lock or settings icon beside the URL, open Site Settings or Permissions, then set Location to allow or deny.
In Gemini Live, tap Turn on video streaming to share camera access and tap Turn on screen sharing to share the screen.
In Gemini in Chrome, go to Chrome > More > Settings > AI innovations > Gemini in Chrome > Permissions to control Precise location and Microphone.
For Gemini shared browser tabs, open Manage tabs, choose Remove tab beside a tab, or choose Stop sharing tabs.
On Android, control Gemini notification access through Settings > Apps > Special app access > Notification read, reply & control > Google.
8. Disconnect apps and built in AI when you are done
In Gemini on a computer, open gemini.google.com > Settings and help > Connected Apps, find the app, then turn it on or off.
In Gemini mobile app, open Menu > profile picture or initial > Connected Apps, find the app, then turn it on or off.
In Gemini mobile web, open Menu > Settings & help > Connected Apps, find the app, then turn it on or off.
In Gemini, type @ in the prompt box only when you want to direct the request to a connected app.
In ChatGPT, disconnect the app in ChatGPT settings. App permissions and access are managed separately from Memory, personalization, data retention, and training controls.
In Claude, click + in the lower left, or type /, hover over Connectors, open Manage connectors, click + next to Connectors, review the connector, then choose Connect or Install.
On a supported iPhone model in a supported language and region, turn Apple Intelligence on or off through Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri, then tap the button next to Apple Intelligence (or Turn on Apple Intelligence, depending on your iOS version and whether you set it up before).
For Apple Intelligence with ChatGPT, go to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > ChatGPT, then use Use ChatGPT or Confirm ChatGPT Requests to control the connection.
On Windows 11, uninstall the Copilot app through Settings > Apps > Installed apps, search for Copilot, open More options, then choose Uninstall.
On Windows 10, uninstall the Copilot app through Settings > Apps, search for Copilot, then choose Uninstall.
Use Connected Apps for Gemini instead of older Extensions instructions.
9. Review work school and family controls
For ChatGPT parental controls, a parent or guardian can open the profile menu > Settings > Parental controls > Add family member > Invite family member, then choose Use phone or Use email.
A teen can invite a parent from Settings > Parental controls > Invite a parent, then choose Use phone or Use email.
In ChatGPT Business, Enterprise, or Edu workspaces, ask the workspace administrator to disable an app when you cannot disconnect it yourself.
For Claude Team and Enterprise, Primary Owner and Owner controls are role-based and include Enable native integrations, Enable custom integrations, Enable capabilities, and Enable public projects. Manage data retention controls and Manage feedback settings are Enterprise-only.
For Claude Enterprise retention, an Owner can open Organization settings > Data and Privacy, set the desired retention period with a minimum of 30 days, then choose Save changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the safest way to start using AI?
Use the official website or download page first. For ChatGPT, that means ChatGPT.com or chatgpt.com/download; for Claude, use claude.ai or claude.com/download.
Can I use AI without saving a sensitive chat?
Yes. ChatGPT Temporary Chat keeps the chat out of history, memory, and training. Claude incognito chats are excluded from past-chat search.
How do I stop AI tools from using my chats for training?
In ChatGPT, turn off Improve the model for everyone in Data Controls. In Gemini, turn off Keep Activity from the Activity page; future chats then stay out of your Activity and are not used to train Google's AI models unless you choose to send feedback, and Google still keeps them for up to 72 hours to run the service. In Copilot, use Privacy controls for conversation and voice training.
Should I trust AI answers with citations?
Use citations as a starting point. Open the original source links, especially for current information or high-stakes medical, legal, financial, or safety-sensitive topics.