Lesson 04 of 38 · Basics - 8 min
AI Basics: How To Stay Safe
Know what not to share with AI and when to pause before clicking a permission button.
AI Basics: Start Here
AI tools can be useful, but they can also see the words you type and the files you give them. Some tools can also connect to other apps. That means safety matters from the start. The easy rule is: if the information would be unsafe on a public noticeboard, do not paste it into AI unless a trusted person has approved the task.
Share, hide, or ask first
A public-noticeboard safety rule for passwords, private information, and permission buttons.
What to understand
- Do not paste passwords, bank details, payment card numbers, secret keys, or recovery codes into AI.
- Do not paste private emails, private calendar details, customer information, or medical details unless the task has been approved.
- Use pretend or sample information when learning.
- Read buttons like Allow, Connect, Authorise, Install, Enable, Run, Approve, and Continue slowly.
- If you do not understand what a permission means, stop and ask before clicking.
Share, hide, or ask first
Use this starter safety table before typing or uploading information.
Step by step
Write the no-share list
Write this list: passwords, bank details, card numbers, recovery codes, secret keys, private emails, and private customer information.
HintThis list is not everything, but it catches the most dangerous mistakes. You are done when the list is somewhere you will see it before you paste anything.
Make one safe practice example
Create a pretend example you could safely use in class, such as a made-up customer called Alex Example with no real address.
HintPretend data lets you learn without exposing real people. You are done when your example contains nothing that points to a real person.
Pause before permission buttons
Practise saying this before clicking a permission button: What will this let the tool see or do?
HintIf you cannot answer that question, do not click yet. You are done when you can answer the question before clicking - or you stop.
Sort these five examples into three groups - safe to share, use pretend data, stop and ask first: a public news article link, a made-up customer called Alex Example, a real customer's email thread, your bank password, last month's private sales spreadsheet.
A personal AI safety checklist.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Pasting a password or secret key into AI.
- Connecting email or calendar before understanding what the tool can see.
- Clicking Allow just because it is the biggest button.
- Using real customer data for practice.
Key terms
- Private information
- Information about a real person or business that should not be shared widely.
- Secret key
- A code that lets software use an account or service. Treat it like a password.
- Permission
- A choice that lets an app see or do something.
- Pretend data
- Made-up information used for safe practice.
Resources
Checkpoint