This is a sad story of Florida. Megan Garcia thought her 14-year-old son spent all his time playing video games. Little did she know that she was having abusive, deep and sexual conversations with a chatbot powered by the app Character AI.
Sewell Setzer III stopped sleeping and his grades dropped. In the end he killed himself. Moments before her death, Megan said at trial, the bot said to her, “Please come home as soon as possible, my love.” The boy asked, “What if I tell you I can go home now?” His AI bot character replied, “Please do, my sweet lord.”
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You have to be smart
AI bots belong technology companies which are known to abuse our trust and are designed to use methods that drive their profits. There are no safeguards or rules governing what they can and cannot do with the information they collect.
An image of an AI chatbot. (iStock)
When you use a chatbot, it will know a lot about you when you shoot install the app or place. From your IP address, it collects information about where you live, and tracks your online searches and any consent you gave when signing the terms and conditions of chatbot.
The best way to protect yourself is to be careful about the information you provide.
Note: ChatGPT likes your personality
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10 things you should never say to AI
- Passwords or login information: Big secret mistake. Once logged in, they can manage your accounts in seconds.
- Your name, address or telephone number: Chatbots are not designed to handle personal information. Once it's shared, you can't control where it ends up or who sees it. Add a fake name if you want!
- Important financial information: Never include bank account numbers, credit card details or other financial information in documents or text you upload. AI tools are not safe rooms – treat them like a crowded room.
- Medical or health information: AI is not HIPAA compliant, so include your name and other identifying information if you ask AI for health advice. Your privacy is more important than quick answers.
- To ask for informal advice: That is against the terms of service of all bots. You will probably get tagged. In addition, you may have more problems than you bargained for.
- Hate speech or harmful content: This, in turn, can get you banned. No chatbot is a free pass to spread negative thoughts or hurt others.
- Confidential work or business information: Proprietary information, customer information and trade secrets are all nos.
- The security question answers: Sharing them is like opening the door to all your accounts at once.
- Clear information: Keep it PG. Most chatbots filter these things, so anything inappropriate can get you banned, too.
- Other people's content: This installation is not just a breach of trust; it's a data protection violation, too. Sharing private information without permission can land you in legal hot water.
Someone is seen using ChatGPT. (Frank Rumpenhorst / image partnership via Getty Images)
Still relying on Google? Never look for these words
Also find the (small) secret bug
Most chatbots require you to create an account. If you do, don't use login options like “Login and Google” or “Connect with Facebook.” Use your email address instead of creating a unique login.
TRAVELER'S TIP: KEEP YOUR MEMORIES BEFORE YOU GO
FYI, I ChatGPT free or Perplexity account, you can turn off memory features in the app settings that remember everything you type. For Google Gemini, you need a paid account to do this.
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Google is pictured here. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)
Regardless, follow this rule
Don't tell the chatbot anything you don't want it to publish. Trust me, I know it's hard.
I also find myself talking to ChatGPT as if it were a human. I say things like, “You could do better with that answer” or “Thanks for the help!” It's easy to think that your bot is a loyal friend, but it's not. It is a data collection tool like no other.
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