Before you start using AI tools regularly, there is one setting worth changing on each platform. By default, most AI tools use your conversations to train and improve their models. That means what you type could be reviewed and used to teach the AI. You can turn this off, here is how: ChatGPT (OpenAI)- 1. Open ChatGPT and click your profile icon in the bottom left corner 2. Select Settings 3. Go to Data Controls 4. Turn off "Improve the model for everyone" Once this is off, your conversations will not be used to train future versions of ChatGPT. Gemini (Google)- 1. Open Gemini and click your profile icon in the top right corner 2. Go to Manage your Google Account 3. Click Data and Privacy 4. Search for Gemini Apps Activity 5. Turn it off This stops Google from saving and reviewing your Gemini conversations for training purposes. Claude (Anthropic)- Claude's free version does not currently offer a simple toggle to opt out of training. Your options: - Use Claude in a Private or Incognito browser window to reduce data retention - If privacy is a priority, use ChatGPT or Gemini with the settings above turned off - Check Anthropic's current privacy policy at anthropic.com for updates, as this may change, - One more habit to build right now: Never paste anything into an AI tool that you would not hand to a stranger. That includes passwords, financial details, full manuscripts, unpublished business ideas, or private client information. Even with training turned off, treat every AI conversation as a semi-public space. What to do after you adjust your settings: Come back and drop a reply below. Let us know which tool you use and whether you found the setting. If you had trouble finding it or have other tools, post here and we will learn together. Part of the HMAIAY™ Method by C. LaDalle - howmayaiassistyou.ai/guide

You don't need to know everything about AI to use it well but knowing these terms will help you follow along, ask better questions, and feel more confident in conversations about AI. Bookmark this post. Come back to it whenever something sounds unfamiliar. A Algorithm — A set of instructions a computer follows to complete a task. Think of it as a recipe — each step runs in order to produce a result. Artificial Intelligence (AI) — Technology designed to mimic human thinking, helping with tasks like writing, searching, summarizing, and decision-making. Automation — Using AI to handle repetitive tasks without doing them manually each time. Example: scheduling posts, sorting emails, generating summaries. B Bias — When AI reflects unfair patterns from the data it learned from. Always apply your own judgment to what AI produces. C Chatbot — An AI program designed to simulate conversation. Some are basic; others (like ChatGPT or Claude) can help with complex tasks. Chat History — The record of your past conversations with an AI tool. You can often turn this off for privacy — recommended when sharing anything sensitive. Context Window — How much text an AI can hold in mind at once. In very long conversations, earlier parts may be "forgotten." Starting a new chat reset this. Copyright — Your legal right to own your creative work. AI-generated content exists in a gray area — always save your original drafts with timestamps. D Deepfake — AI-generated images, audio, or video that make it appear someone said or did something they didn't. Think critically about what you see online. G Generative AI — AI that creates new content — text, images, music — based on your instructions. ChatGPT, Claude, and Midjourney are examples. H Hallucination — When AI states something confidently that is incorrect. It's not lying — it's pattern-matching gone wrong. Always verify important facts. I Iteration — Refining your prompt to get a better response. If the first answer isn't right, adjust and try again. This is normal and expected.