How to opt out of AI data collection in popular apps

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Every time you ask ChatGPT a question, say “Hey Siri,” or let Google finish your sentence, something else may happen in the background. In many cases, you are helping train the AI that responds to you.

Most people do not realize this. However, many AI platforms use conversations to improve their systems. As a result, your questions, your voice and your habits can be stored and reused by some of the world’s largest tech companies.

That said, you are not stuck with these settings. You can turn off much of this data collection if you know where to look. Even better, it only takes about 15 minutes across the major platforms. Here is exactly how.

 

 

 

What AI apps are quietly collecting about you

AI assistants are designed to feel like a private conversation. But depending on the platform, what’s collected often goes well beyond what you typed or said:

• Full conversation transcripts
• Voice recordings and audio clips
• Location data and device identifiers
• Browsing habits and search history
• Names, routines, and personal details you mention in passing
• App usage patterns across your devices.

Almost none of this is turned off by default. You have to go find the switch yourself.

 

Think about what you’ve actually shared lately

Here’s a quick thought experiment. In the last month, have you asked an AI assistant about:

• A health symptom you were worried about?
• A financial decision you were weighing?
• A family situation you needed advice on?
• Your child’s schedule, school, or activities?

Each detail seems harmless on its own. But together, they create a surprisingly detailed picture of your life-one that could be stored indefinitely, reviewed by human contractors, or exposed in a data breach.

In 2023, Samsung engineers accidentally leaked sensitive internal code by pasting it into ChatGPT. Most people don’t have an IT department watching out for them. But everyone can take a few minutes to adjust their settings.

 

How to opt out platform by platform

This doesn’t mean you should stop using AI tools. They can be incredibly useful. But it’s worth understanding what’s being collected-and what you can turn off right now.

 

1) ChatGPT (OpenAI)

By default, your conversations may be used to help improve AI models, but you can turn this off at any time.

To turn this off:

• Open ChatGPT
• Tap or click your profile icon
• Select Settings
• Go to Data Controls
• Toggle off “Improve the model for everyone”

You can also go to Settings > Data Controls > Export data to download everything OpenAI has stored, or select Delete all chats to wipe your history. Note that even with training off, OpenAI retains conversations for up to 30 days for safety monitoring.

 

2) Google (Gemini & AI features)

Google’s AI tools, including Gemini and Search’s AI Overviews, are tied to your Google account activity.

To manage this:

• Go to myactivity.google.com
• Select Web & App Activity and turn it off, or set auto-delete to 3 months
• Separately, visit gemini.google.com > Settings > Gemini Apps Activity and toggle it off

Keep in mind: disabling activity tracking may affect personalization across Gmail, Maps, and other Google services.

 

3) Microsoft Copilot

Copilot is built into Windows, Microsoft 365 and Edge, so it can access a wide range of your documents and activity.

To adjust your settings:

• Go to account.microsoft.com/privacy and sign in
• Click Privacy in the left-hand menu
• Scroll to App and service activity, and review your recent activity
• Click Clear all activities or remove individual items
• Scroll down to App and service performance data, and clear that data if available
• Scroll further and select Copilot, then tap Manage data from Microsoft Copilot to review or delete your data

In Windows 11: Settings > Privacy & Security > Diagnostics & Feedback and turn off Optional diagnostic data

Microsoft does not offer one single switch that turns off all Copilot data collection, so you need to review settings in multiple places. Enterprise users should check with their IT administrator, as organizational settings may also apply.

 

4) Amazon Alexa

Alexa stores voice recordings by default, and in some cases, Amazon may have human reviewers listen to those recordings as part of its quality review process.

To turn off voice recording use:

• Open the Alexa app
• Tap More (upper left, three lines)
• Tap Alexa Privacy
• Scroll down and select Manage Your Alexa Data
• Tap Help Improve Alexa and turn off Use Voice Recordings
• Confirm your decision by tapping Turn off

To stop Alexa from keeping your recordings:

• Open the Alexa app
• Tap More (upper left, three lines)
• Tap Alexa Privacy
• Scroll down and select Manage Your Alexa Data
• Tap Voice Recordings and Transcripts
• Select Don’t retain

 

5) Apple Siri

Apple is generally more privacy-focused than other platforms, but Siri still collects data to improve its performance.

To limit Siri data collection:

• On your iPhone, go to Settings
• Tap Privacy & Security
• Tap Analytics & Improvements
• Turn off Share iPhone & Apple Watch Analytics
• Scroll down and turn off Improve Siri & Dictation

To delete your existing Siri history:

• On your iPhone, go to Settings
• Tap Siri or Apple Intelligence & Siri
• Tap Siri & Dictation History
• Tap Delete Siri & Dictation History

 

Why AI privacy settings are only part of the solution

Adjusting these settings is an important step. But it only controls what these apps collect directly going forward. It doesn’t address the hundreds of websites that may already be publishing your personal information online, right now, without your knowledge.

 

Data brokers are still collecting your information

Data brokers do not need your AI chat history. Instead, they pull information from public records, marketing lists and people-search databases. They also refresh these profiles constantly, which keeps your data active and easy to find. As a result, your name, address, phone number and family members may already appear on dozens of sites you have never heard of. Unlike AI apps, these sites do not offer a single settings menu to turn this off. While you can remove your data manually, the process takes hours and often requires repeated requests when your information gets reposted.

 

How to remove your personal information from data broker sites

Incogni, a service I trust 100% and use myself, helps automate the process by submitting removal requests to hundreds of data brokers and people-search sites on your behalf.

Incogni automatically contacts data brokers on your behalf and requests the removal of your personal information. It also continues monitoring those sites and submits new removal requests if your data reappears.

• Incogni currently removes personal data from 420+ data broker and people-search websites, and their Unlimited plan allows you to request removals from as many additional sites as you need.
• Incogni has also received third-party assurance from Deloitte, validating its marketing claims.
• The goal is simple: make it much harder for strangers, scammers, and cybercriminals to find your personal information online.

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The service also includes a 30-day, money-back guarantee, so you can try it risk-free and see how much of your information is exposed online.

• Get Incogni and remove your info
• Protect your entire household with Incogni’s Family plan (up to 5 people)

 

You can also run a free exposure scan to see where your personal information is appearing online. Results typically arrive by email within an hour.

 

 

Related Links: 

• Remove your data to protect your retirement from scammers
• Why widows and divorced women are targets for retirement scams
• Scams that aren’t illegal (but should be)

 

 

Kurt’s Key Takeaways

Spending just 15 minutes adjusting your AI privacy settings is one of the most effective steps you can take to protect your digital privacy right now. Most major platforms, including OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Apple, collect data by default. However, you can opt out, even though companies often bury these settings deep in menus. As a result, many people never find them. At the same time, AI assistants feel private and conversational, so you may share more personal information than you realize. Even if you turn off data collection going forward, companies do not erase what they have already stored. In addition, these settings only control what happens inside each platform. Data brokers still build separate profiles about you using information pulled from across the internet. Because of this, privacy is not a one-time fix. Instead, you need to check your settings regularly and stay aware of what you share. The good news is you do not have to stop using AI tools. Instead, take a few minutes this week to review your settings and make sure the rest of your digital footprint is not working against you.

How much personal data are you willing to let big tech companies collect from your everyday AI use? Let us know in the comments below.

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