By Kim Komando The Kim Komando Show Published December 19, 2024 7:21pm EST close Would you want to chat with this creepy-looking Lego head powered by AI Dave is the world's most advanced AI Lego robotic head. This is a heartbreaking story out of Florida. Megan Garcia thought her 14-year-old son was spending all his time playing video games. She had no idea he was having abusive, in-depth and sexual conversations with a chatbot powered by the app Character AI.Sewell Setzer III stopped sleeping and his grades tanked. He ultimately committed suicide. Just seconds before his death, Megan says in a lawsuit, the bot told him, "Please come home to me as soon as possible, my love." The boy asked, "What if I told you I could come home right now?" His Character AI bot answered, "Please do, my sweet king."DONT SCAM YOURSELF WITH THE TRICKS HACKERS DONT WANT ME TO SHARE Im giving away a $500 Amazon gift card.Enter here, no purchase necessary.You have to be smartAI bots are owned by tech companies known for exploiting our trusting human nature, and theyre designed using algorithms that drive their profits. There are no guardrails or laws governing what they can and cannot do with the information they gather. A photo illustration of an AI chatbot. (iStock)When youre using a chatbot, its going to know a lot about you when you fire up the app or site. From your IP address, it gathers information about where you live, plus it tracks things youve searched for online and accesses any other permissions youve granted when you signed the chatbots terms and conditions.The best way to protect yourself is to be careful about what info you offer up.Be careful: ChatGPT likes it when you get personalTHIS CRIME SHOT UP 400% HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF10 things not to say to AIPasswords or login credentials: A major privacy mistake. If someone gets access, they can take over your accounts in seconds.Your name, address or phone number: Chatbots arent designed to handle personally identifiable info. Once shared, you cant control where it ends up or who sees it. Plug in a fake name if you want!Sensitive financial information: Never include bank account numbers, credit card details or other money matters in docs or text you upload. AI tools arent secure vaults treat them like a crowded room.Medical or health data:AI isnt HIPAA-compliant, so redact your name and other identifying info if you ask AI for health advice. Your privacy is worth more than quick answers.Asking for illegal advice: Thats against every bots terms of service. Youll probably get flagged. Plus, you might end up with more trouble than you bargained for.Hate speech or harmful content:This, too, can get you banned. No chatbot is a free pass to spread negativity or harm others.Confidential work or business info: Proprietary data, client details and trade secrets are all no-nos.Security question answers: Sharing them is like opening the front door to all your accounts at once.Explicit content:Keep it PG. Most chatbots filter this stuff, so anything inappropriate could get you banned, too.Other peoples personal info:Uploading this isnt only a breach of trust; its a breach of data protection laws, too. Sharing private info without permission could land you in legal hot water. A person is seen using ChatGPT. (Frank Rumpenhorst/picture alliance via Getty Images)Still relying on Google?Never search for these termsReclaim a (tiny) bit of privacyMost chatbots require you to create an account. If you make one, dont use login options like "Login with Google" or "Connect with Facebook." Use your email address instead to create a truly unique login.TECH TIP: SAVE YOUR MEMORIES BEFORE ITS TOO LATEFYI, with a free ChatGPT or Perplexity account, you can turn off memory features in the app settings that remember everything you type in. For Google Gemini, you need a paid account to do this.Best AI tools for search, productivity, fun and work Google is pictured here. (AP Photo/Don Ryan)No matter what, follow this ruleDont tell a chatbot anything you wouldnt want made public. Trust me, I know its hard.Even I find myself talking to ChatGPT like its a person. I say things like, "You can do better with that answer" or "Thanks for the help!" Its easy to think your bot is a trusted ally, but its definitely not. Its a data-collecting tool like any other.Get tech-smarter on your scheduleAward-winning host Kim Komando is your secret weapon for navigating tech.National radio:Airing on 500+ stations across the US -Find yours orget the free podcast.Daily newsletter:Join 579,000 people who read the Current (free!)Watch: OnKims YouTube channelPodcast: "Kim Komando Today" - Listen wherever you get podcastsCopyright 2025, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved.