Lesson 209 of 1169
Should AI Know Your Secrets?
Anything you tell AI is saved somewhere.
Explorers · Ethics & Society · ~24 min read
Should AI Know Your Secrets
Anything you tell AI is saved somewhere. Even private-feeling chats aren't really private.
If you tell AI something embarrassing or secret, it could come back to you in unexpected ways.
Three things you can do for privacy
- Use 'private mode' when available
- Don't sign in if you don't have to
- Delete your conversation history regularly
Key terms in this lesson
The big idea: AI is not really a private place. Treat it like writing in a notebook someone might read.
Practice this safely
Try this with a low-stakes example and a trusted adult nearby. The goal is to notice how AI talks about data retention, not to let it make the decision for you.
- 1Ask AI to explain data retention in plain language, then underline anything that sounds uncertain or too broad.
- 2Give it one detail from "Should AI Know Your Secrets?" and ask for two possible next steps plus one reason each step might be wrong.
- 3Check private mode against a trusted source, teacher, adult, expert, or original document before you use it.
End-of-lesson quiz
Check what stuck
8 questions · Score saves to your progress.
Lesson help
Questions are best handled with a grown-up here.
For this age range, Tendril keeps freeform AI chat paused until parent/guardian consent and child-safe moderation are fully verified. Use the quiz, notes, and related lessons below, or ask a parent, guardian, teacher, or librarian to work through the question with you.
Progress saved locally in this browser. Sign in to sync across devices.
Related lessons
Keep going
Explorers · 12 min
Do Not Tell AI Your Passwords
Never give AI your password — even if it asks.
Explorers · 40 min
AI Can Make Fake Things Look Real
AI can make fake pictures, fake videos, and fake voices that look and sound real.
Explorers · 12 min
When AI Knows Too Much About You
AI services often save what you type.