AI Foundations · Guide 7 of 7
What Not to Share with AI
You just wrote your first real prompt. Before you finish this Pillar, there's one thing every AI user needs to understand — and almost nobody teaches it clearly.
After This Guide, You Will Be Able To
Apply one practical rule for protecting your personal and professional information every time you use an AI tool.
What Happens When You Type Into AI
When you type something into an AI tool, that input may be used to improve the model. It may be stored. In some cases, it may be reviewed by humans at the company.
This is not a secret. Most AI tools disclose it in their terms of service — which almost nobody reads.
It is not a reason to be afraid of AI. It is a reason to use the same judgment you would with any digital tool. You would not send sensitive information in a public Facebook post. Apply the same instinct here.
Before sharing any information with an AI tool, ask:
"Would I be comfortable if this were public?"
If yes
Proceed. Type it in.
If no
Remove or generalize it before typing.
Four Categories to Protect
Personal Identification
Full name combined with address, phone number, or ID numbers
Passport or government ID details
Date of birth combined with other identifiers
Financial Information
Bank account or credit card numbers
Exact salary or income figures you haven't shared publicly
Client payment details or invoice amounts
Client or Employer Information
Client names in combination with sensitive project details
Internal company documents or confidential strategies
Colleague names combined with private performance or HR information
Health Information
Medical history, diagnoses, or medications
Mental health details
Health information about people you know
How to Work Around It
You do not need to avoid AI for sensitive tasks. You need to use placeholder language instead of real details.
Avoid
My client Jollibee needs a proposal for a ₱500,000 campaign.
Use instead
My client (a large fast food brand) needs a proposal for a mid-range marketing campaign.
Avoid
I earn ₱35,000 a month. Should I invest?
Use instead
Someone earning around ₱30–40k a month is considering investing. What are the options?
Avoid
Help me write a message to my boss Maria about my raise.
Use instead
Help me write a message to my manager requesting a salary review.
Interactive Exercise
About 5 minutes · No AI tool needed
Look back at the prompt you wrote in Guide 6. Read it again.
Apply the one rule: "Would I be comfortable if this were public?"
If there is anything in the prompt you would not want public — rewrite that part using placeholder language. See if the rewritten version still gets AI a useful result.
This exercise closes the loop on the entire Pillar. You review your own first prompt through the lens of responsible use.
Think about the kind of work you want to do with AI — freelancing, job hunting, content creation, business. What types of information will you regularly need to share with AI to get useful help — and how will you protect the sensitive parts?
You do not need to write it down. Just think.
Key Takeaways
AI conversations are not private — inputs may be stored or used for model training.
The one rule: before sharing information with AI, ask "Would I be comfortable if this were public?"
You do not need to avoid sensitive topics — use placeholder language instead of real identifying details.
This rule applies permanently, to every AI tool, for every task. It is a habit, not a checklist.
AI Foundations — Complete
You've finished all 7 guides. You understand what AI is, where it helps, where it fails, why it makes things up, how to choose a tool, how to write a real prompt, and how to protect your information.
Take Final Assessment 🏅Next Pillar
Think with AI
Learn to collaborate — not just prompt. Pillar 2 of 6.