What should I never type into ChatGPT?

Written 2026-10-16

Short answer. Never type passwords, one-time codes, card or bank details, ID numbers, or other people's private details into ChatGPT or any AI tool. Treat what you type as something you hand to the company that runs it. Remove names, numbers and addresses first, and look for a data setting in the tool.

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The never list

Passwords and one-time codes, including the codes sent to your phone or an app.
Card numbers, bank account numbers and PINs.
ID, passport, tax and social security numbers.
Other people's private details. A friend's problem, a customer list, a colleague's review. They did not agree to it.
Work documents your employer has not said you may share, and anything under a confidentiality agreement.
Medical test results with your name on them.

Why: you are handing text to a company

When you type into an AI chat tool, the text goes to the company that runs it. What they keep, for how long, and whether they use it to improve the product depends on the tool and on your settings. We do not copy those terms here because they change. Read the tool's own privacy page, and look for a setting about your chats being used to improve the product.

A 5-minute check before you start

Open the tool's settings and find the data or privacy section.
Look for the option that lets the company use your chats to improve the product. Decide on purpose, do not leave it by accident.
Find out whether it keeps a history of your chats and how to delete one.
On a shared computer, sign out when you finish.
On a work account, ask first. Many workplaces have a rule about AI tools.

Make your text safe before you paste it

Swap names, numbers and addresses for plain labels. The tool does not need them to do the job.

Instead of:  Alex Smith, 12 Example Street, wants a refund of 84 euros for order 55821.
Paste:  A customer wants a refund of [amount] for an order. Write a short, polite reply.

If you already pasted something

Change the password on the real website, not inside the chat.
Delete the chat in the tool's history.
If it was a card or bank detail, tell your bank.
If it was a work document, tell your manager.

What is fine to type

Your own drafts with the details removed, general questions, and text you wrote yourself. Five prompts for these jobs. After you get an answer, check it in three steps.

Questions

Does ChatGPT remember what I type?
Some tools keep a history of your chats, and some can keep notes about you between chats. Look in the tool's settings for history and memory options, and delete what you do not want kept.

Is it safe to paste my CV into an AI tool?
Remove your phone number, home address and ID numbers first, and read the tool's privacy page. Job titles and employer names are your own choice to share.

Can I use ChatGPT at work?
Ask your employer. Some workplaces allow it with rules, and some forbid pasting client or company documents. Do not guess.