Experts advise Richmond users to avoid sharing sensitive data with AI chatbots

A data privacy advocate with U.S. PIRG advised Richmond area residents to avoid sharing sensitive information such as Social Security numbers, medical details, and personal documents when using AI chatbots, NBC12 reported.

The advocate explained that information typed into AI chatbots can be stored by the companies behind them and may be used to train the AI, potentially exposing that data to others.

There have been instances where information shared with chatbots appeared in other people's online searches, raising concerns about privacy and data security in the Richmond community.

Users are encouraged to review chatbot privacy settings carefully and limit sharing personal details about themselves and others to reduce the risk of sensitive data being accessed or exposed.

The expert emphasized that while private chats do not automatically become public, the possibility of data being surfaced in other chats or exposed through hacking remains a concern for local users.