The difference in a table
| Privacy approach | Design philosophy |
|---|---|
| Consumer with opt-out | Convenient, but you activate confidentiality yourself in the settings |
| Plan with guarantees | Contractual commitments on data, designed for work and companies |
| Local model | Runs on your device: the data never leaves home |
Which to choose
For most people, privacy is achieved by configuring a convenient tool well: look for the option that excludes your conversations from training, turn it on, and use temporary chat for sensitive things. If you handle more sensitive data — work, clients, confidential documents — step up a level: choose a plan that puts in writing how it handles your data and doesn't use it to improve the model. For those with extreme confidentiality needs, or who work offline, there are models that run directly on your own computer: less powerful than the best online ones, but the data never leaves the device. In any case, the strongest defense isn't the tool but the habit: what you don't write risks nothing.
When the comparison changes
Privacy policies are among the things that change most often: default settings, opt-out options, retention periods are tweaked constantly, even for the better under the pressure of regulations. What is active by default today might not be tomorrow. The clue that doesn't age isn't which product is "the most private" right now, but two habits: check and configure the privacy settings every time you open a new tool, and keep out of the chats the data you don't want to entrust to anyone. These two rules hold whatever changes in the panels.
Frequently asked questions
Does paying for a subscription guarantee my privacy?
Not automatically. On many personal paid plans, training on your content stays active by default, as in the free one, and must be turned off by hand. Real guarantees come from plans designed for work and companies, or from the configuration you set yourself. Price, on its own, isn't a promise of confidentiality.
Is temporary chat the most private thing I can do?
It's among the simplest and most effective: it doesn't go into the history and isn't used for training. It is, however, usually kept for a short period for security reasons before disappearing. It's very private, but not "invisible": for truly critical data, better not to entrust it to an online service at all.
What are the models that run on my computer?
They are versions of AI installed locally, which process everything on your device without sending data to an external server. For privacy they're the maximum, because nothing leaves home. In exchange they require a capable computer and are usually less powerful than the best online models.
Is there a "privacy-proof" AI that keeps me safe on its own?
No, and it's the reassurance that makes you let your guard down. No tool protects you from what you hand it: confidentiality isn't a feature you buy, it's a behavior. Even the most privacy-conscious AI can't defend a sensitive piece of data you've chosen to write to it. Your first and last protection is deciding what not to give it.