how does ai use my data

is my data secure in artificiAL INTELLIGENCE

Introduction

FULL TRANSPARENCY:

The information below came from a number of sources and was complied using a combination of Copilot and ChatGPT.

When you upload a document to an AI model like ChatGPT or interact with other AI platforms, several important processes and questions arise regarding how the data is processed, stored, and secured. Understanding what happens to your document and the data within it is key to using AI responsibly. In this exploration, we’ll break down what happens when you upload a document, what the AI does with the data, and address critical questions around security, privacy, and the AI’s memory.

data processing

The first thing that happens when you upload a document to ChatGPT or other AI models is that the document is processed by the AI to generate insights, responses, or actions based on the content you provide. In essence, the AI uses complex natural language processing (NLP) algorithms to “read” the text, interpret its context, extract relevant information, and then generate a response or output tailored to your query or purpose.

This processing happens in real-time, without needing to store the data permanently. AI models like ChatGPT break the document into tokens, which are small chunks of text, and use these tokens to analyse and predict how the model should respond.

temporary use of data

During the interaction, your document is used to generate a response. It’s important to note that, typically, the data from your document is only used temporarily to process that specific request. In most cases, it is not stored permanently, especially in consumer-facing applications of AI like ChatGPT. The model processes the information in memory while crafting its response, but once the interaction is complete, the data from the document is not retained.

In other words, for any session, ChatGPT will process the document to give meaningful responses based on the document’s content but will not keep it after the session ends. This is crucial to understand because it means the data is not automatically added to the model’s long-term “memory.”

Does the Document Affect AI’s Memory?

A common misconception about AI, especially with models like ChatGPT, is that every piece of data it interacts with is stored indefinitely or added to a “memory” of sorts. This is not the case. For consumer-level AI interactions like those with ChatGPT, the model does not store or remember personal data or documents across sessions.

Every interaction is generally stateless, meaning that unless you explicitly tell the AI to retain specific information (such as in some personalised services), the data from one session does not persist into future interactions. In your case, if you upload a document today, the content of that document will not be remembered in future sessions.

For example, if you uploaded a business report today to generate a summary, ChatGPT would process the document to help generate the summary during that session. However, if you returned tomorrow and asked about the same report without uploading it again, the model would have no recollection of your previous document or any information within it.

Model Training and Data Storage

One of the most common concerns with AI systems is whether your uploaded document is used to “train” the AI in the future. Most reputable AI services like OpenAI (the creators of ChatGPT) explicitly state that they do not use personal interactions, including uploaded documents, to train their models unless you have given consent to do so.

This means that your specific interactions with the AI are typically not part of the broader data set that is used to improve or fine-tune the model. Instead, the model is trained on large, pre-existing data sets, and updates to the model are based on that, rather than individual user sessions.

However, it is important to understand that in some cases, anonymised interaction data might be collected to improve the system’s performance, but this data is generally scrubbed of identifiable information and not tied back to your document or any other personal data you provide.

how secure is my data?

Encryption and Secure Transmission

When you upload a document to an AI system like ChatGPT, one of the key security measures in place is encryption. Most AI platforms use secure communication protocols (such as HTTPS) to ensure that the data transmitted between your device and the AI’s servers is encrypted. Encryption ensures that if the data were intercepted during transmission, it would be unreadable to third parties.

Similarly, if the AI service processes your data on its servers, it is often stored in memory temporarily for the duration of your session. During this time, the data remains encrypted, adding another layer of protection against unauthorised access.

Data Retention Policies

Most AI platforms will have clear policies on data retention. For instance, OpenAI, which powers ChatGPT, explicitly states that it does not store personal data from user interactions beyond the duration necessary to fulfil the user request unless the user consents to longer-term storage (such as for troubleshooting purposes).

For example, if you were to upload a sensitive document to generate a summary, the data would only be stored temporarily to fulfil that request. Once the session ends, the document and the data within it are typically erased from the system’s active memory.

It is, however, essential to read and understand the specific data retention policies of the AI service you are using. Some services may keep logs or interaction data for short periods, but in such cases, these logs are often anonymised or scrubbed of identifiable information.

User Control and Consent

Most AI systems designed for public or consumer use do not store information or documents without explicit user consent. This means you maintain control over the data you upload, and reputable platforms will give you clear options on whether you want to retain any of the information. If the platform provides customization features, it will ask for consent to remember certain details about you.

For example, in AI applications where personalization is a feature (such as voice assistants that remember preferences), there is usually an opt-in system, and users can delete any data at any time. In ChatGPT’s typical use, the system has no long-term memory, and user-uploaded data is discarded after the session ends.

privacy and security risks

Potential Risks

While AI platforms like ChatGPT are designed with security and privacy in mind, there are still potential risks associated with uploading sensitive documents. If you upload highly sensitive data, such as confidential business reports or personal information, there is always a small risk that, despite encryption and security measures, this data could be intercepted or misused in some way.

For example, if a system were hacked, or if the AI service had a vulnerability, sensitive data could be at risk, although such scenarios are rare. It’s also worth considering that different AI platforms may have varying levels of security maturity, so it’s important to assess the reputation and practices of the provider you are using

Recommendations for Security

To mitigate the risks associated with uploading documents to AI systems, it’s advisable to:

– Avoid uploading sensitive or confidential documents unless you are confident in the platform’s security measures.

– Read the platform’s privacy policy and terms of service to ensure that your data is being handled appropriately.

– Check for data anonymisation practices, which reduce the risk of your personal data being linked back to you.

– Use platforms that offer end-to-end encryption to secure your data during transmission and processing.

ai data usage summary

summary

When you upload a document to AI platforms like ChatGPT, the system processes the data temporarily to generate responses, without retaining or adding the data to long-term memory. The interaction is usually stateless, and user data is discarded after the session ends. Most reputable AI platforms offer encryption and security protocols to protect user data, but users must remain vigilant by understanding privacy policies and avoiding uploading sensitive documents without appropriate protections.

The security and privacy landscape around AI is evolving, and platforms like ChatGPT are continuously improving to ensure data handling is safe, but it’s always wise to use caution when sharing sensitive data with any AI system.

just for balance 🙂

unconscious use of ai example

As per the top of this section… the details on how our data is used by AI, cam e from a number of AI outputs and was complied using a combination of Copilot and ChatGPT…

However.

For the last 12 months I have been ‘attempting’ to build us a campervan from an old Transit Minibus.

We had our first trip away in Easter, and travelled around the North of Scotland. On our last night we stopped in a very remote spot in Glencoe, about 6 miles off the main road.

I was also at that point coming to the end of my degree which was based around the use of AI in the classroom. Coming back from our trip, I thought I ought to get a bit more of my final degree project written, and decided I’d like an image of AI in the classroom, to use as the background to my final report.

I asked the image creator within ChatGPT to create me a background image that I could use.

The prompt I entered was:

Create me a background image to show the use of AI in Further Education in Scotland.

The image slider below will show you the image that was produced.

If you follow where the robot in the classroom is pointing… you will see an image of Glencoe, and the exact spot where the robot is pointing, is the spot we spent the last night camping.

ChatGPT had picked up my location settings from my phone, and used that to create the background image.

Just saying …..