Here’s something many people don’t realize: on the regular consumer versions of ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Claude, your conversations can be used to train and improve their AI models unless you turn that off. Paying for a Plus or Pro plan doesn’t change this on its own.
The good news is that each one has a simple setting. It takes about five minutes to change all three.
Why It Matters
When chats are used for training, they may be stored longer and, in some cases, reviewed by people to improve quality. If you’ve ever pasted work documents, health questions or personal details into an AI chat, it’s worth turning this off.
ChatGPT: Turn Off “Improve the Model for Everyone”
- Open ChatGPT on the web or app and click your profile icon.
- Go to Settings > Data Controls.
- Turn off Improve the model for everyone.
Your chat history stays, but new conversations won’t be used for training.
For one-off sensitive chats: Start a Temporary Chat. It doesn’t appear in your history, doesn’t create memories and isn’t used for training (OpenAI may keep a copy for up to 30 days for safety).
Google Gemini: Turn Off Gemini Apps Activity
- Open Gemini at gemini.google.com or in the Gemini app.
- Go to Settings (or your profile) > Activity / Gemini Apps Activity. The switch may be labeled Keep Activity.
- Choose Turn off. You can also choose to delete your past activity.
With activity off, Google says your chats won’t be used to train its AI models unless you send feedback. Gemini also offers temporary chats for one-off conversations.
Note: Turning off activity can also turn off some features that rely on your history, such as personalization.
Claude: Turn Off “Help Improve Claude”
- Open Claude at claude.ai or in the app and click your name or profile icon.
- Go to Settings > Privacy.
- Turn off Help improve Claude.
New chats won’t be used to train Claude’s models, and Anthropic keeps them for a much shorter time. Claude also has incognito chats, which aren’t saved to your history or used for training.
Note: These details come from the company’s own announcements and have not been independently verified by Next DigiTech.
Other AI Tools Worth Checking
- Microsoft Copilot: Look in Copilot’s privacy settings for an option about training on your conversations.
- Meta AI: There’s no general training opt-out outside the EU and UK. See our guide on how to turn off Meta AI.
- Grammarly and other writing tools: Check account settings for “product improvement” or “training” options.
What Opting Out Does (and Doesn’t) Do
- It does stop future chats from being used to improve the AI.
- It doesn’t remove data from models that were already trained.
- It doesn’t mean zero storage. Companies may still keep chats for a limited time for safety and legal reasons.
- Work accounts are different. Business plans like ChatGPT Business or Enterprise, Claude Team or Enterprise, and Google Workspace generally don’t train on your data by default.
Note: Features and policies may vary by plan, region and app version, and can change at any time. Check the official help center for the latest information.
Simple Privacy Habits for Any AI Chat
- Don’t paste passwords, ID numbers, bank details or medical records.
- Replace names and contact details with placeholders before pasting documents.
- Use temporary or incognito chats for anything sensitive.
- Delete old chats you no longer need.
For more, read is it safe to share personal info with AI chatbots?
Frequently Asked Questions
Does ChatGPT Plus train on my data?
By default, consumer plans including Plus can use your chats for training until you turn off “Improve the model for everyone” in Data Controls.
Will turning this off delete my chat history?
Not in ChatGPT or Claude. Your history stays. In Gemini, turning off activity stops saving new chats, and you can choose whether to delete past ones.
Do temporary chats really stay private?
They aren’t used for training and don’t appear in your history, but they may be kept briefly for safety checks before deletion.
Do I need to change this on every device?
No. These settings are tied to your account, so changing them once applies everywhere you’re signed in.
The Bottom Line
Spend five minutes today: turn off Improve the model for everyone in ChatGPT, Gemini Apps Activity in Gemini, and Help improve Claude in Claude. Then use temporary chats for anything sensitive. You’ll keep the benefits of AI while sharing a lot less.
Related Guides
- What Is ChatGPT? How It Works, Pricing and How to Use It (2026 Guide)
- ChatGPT vs Gemini vs Claude: Which AI Assistant Fits You? (2026)
- How to Tell If an Image Is AI-Generated: 6 Simple Checks (2026)
- What Is DeepSeek? Features, Privacy Risks and Is It Safe to Use? (2026)
Explore more in our Online Safety and Privacy hub.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is based on details available at the time of writing. Prices, plans, features, release dates, policies and availability can change at any time and may vary by country. Please verify the latest information on the official website of the company or product mentioned before making any decision or purchase. This is not medical, financial, legal or security advice; consult a qualified professional for your situation. Next DigiTech is an independent website and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the companies mentioned; all trademarks belong to their respective owners. We are not responsible for any loss or decisions made based on this content.
