AI Chatbots: Your Data is the Real Product

AI chatbots, while offering advanced features, often operate under a model where user data is the primary commodity. Many applications collect extensive personal information, from basic demographics to chat logs and keystrokes, with some willing to monetize this data. Google's Gemini is highlighted for its broad data collection, encompassing browsing history, contacts, and location. In contrast, Microsoft's Copilot is recognized for its commitment to minimal data collection, ensuring user information is not sold to advertisers or used to train foundational AI models. For individuals seeking to safeguard their privacy, running AI models locally is presented as a practical alternative. This approach involves using software like Ollama and downloading local versions of AI models, thus bypassing the extensive data harvesting associated with cloud-based services.