PRIVACY AND VERIFICATION

Before You Share: A Simple AI Privacy Checklist

AI tools are most useful when you give them context — and that is exactly why a moment of caution matters. Anything you type into an AI tool may be stored or reviewed by the company behind it. Run through this checklist before you share.

The checklist

• Never enter passwords, PINs, or account numbers. No legitimate AI tool or service needs them, and no one from Your AI Neighbor will ever ask for them.
• Leave out Social Security, Medicare, and bank details. If a task involves a document with these, black them out or describe the situation instead.
• Ask before sharing someone else’s information. Family members’ health, finances, and stories belong to them.
• Prefer describing over uploading. “A letter from my insurer about a rate increase” is usually enough — you rarely need to upload the letter itself.
• Check the answer before acting on it. For anything important, verify with the official website, a phone call, or a professional.
• Review the app’s privacy settings once. Many AI apps let you choose whether your conversations are saved or used for training. We can review these together in a session.

A quick example

Instead of pasting a full medical bill into an AI tool, you might ask: “What do the common billing codes on a medical statement usually mean, and what questions should I ask the billing office?” You get the same practical value without sharing the document.

If something feels wrong

AI is not a reliable scam detector. If a message, call, or email pressures you for money, gift cards, or account details, stop and verify independently — call the organization back on a number you look up yourself, or ask someone you trust.

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