Field notesExplainers
Explainers
Plain-language explainers covering how AI memory, conversation limits, and chat history features actually work.
22 articles
Can My Employer See My ChatGPT Conversations?
Whether your employer can see your ChatGPT chats depends on the account, the device, and the network. Here is what is visible in each case, and how to keep work AI private.
Does ChatGPT Train on Your Conversations? What OpenAI Does With Your Chats
Yes, by default OpenAI may use personal ChatGPT conversations to improve its models. Here is exactly when that happens, how to opt out, and how to keep a private record of your chats.
Does Claude Train on Your Conversations? Anthropic's 2025 Policy Change Explained
Since August 2025, Anthropic may use consumer Claude conversations for model training unless you opt out. Here is what changed, how the setting works, and how to keep a private record of your chats.
Does Gemini Train on Your Conversations? How Google Uses Your Chats
By default, Google can use Gemini Apps conversations to improve and train its AI, including human review. Here is exactly what happens, how to turn it off, and how to keep a private record.
Does Grok Train on Your Conversations? How xAI and X Use Your Data
By default, Grok can use your X posts and your Grok conversations to train its AI. Here is exactly what is used, how to opt out, and how to keep a private record of your chats.
Is DeepSeek Safe? Data Privacy, Storage, and Your Conversation History
DeepSeek stores data in China and may use your conversations to train its models. Here is what its privacy policy says, the real risks, and how to keep a private record of your chats.
Is It Safe to Use ChatGPT for Work? A Practical Risk Guide
Using ChatGPT for work is safe for many tasks if you manage three risks: confidentiality, accuracy, and account type. Here is a practical guide to using it responsibly.
Are AI Conversations Private? What Happens to Your Chats
AI conversations are not private in the way a personal note is. On most platforms your chats are stored on company servers, may be used to improve models, and can be accessed under legal process. This guide explains what private really means for AI chat and how to keep more control.
Do AI Chats Get Deleted? What Happens to Your Conversation History
AI chats are not deleted automatically on most platforms; they stay in your history until you delete them, with deletion timing and recoverability set by each provider's policy. This guide explains what actually happens to your conversations across ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and others.
Does ChatGPT Keep Deleted Conversations? (Retention Explained)
When you delete a ChatGPT conversation it leaves your account view, but OpenAI's servers may keep it for a window afterward. This guide explains ChatGPT's deletion and retention policy, how legal holds can override it, and what it means for your privacy.
How Long Do AI Platforms Keep Your Conversation History?
Retention varies by platform: ChatGPT keeps chats until you delete them, Gemini auto-deletes activity after a set period, and others differ by tier. This guide compares how long ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Perplexity and more keep your conversation history.
What Is Local-First Software? (And Why It Matters for AI Tools)
Local-first software keeps your data on your own device as the primary copy, so you own it, can use it offline, and do not depend on a server staying available. This guide explains the principles, the trade-offs, and why local-first matters for AI chat tools.
Where Is ChatGPT History Stored? (And Who Can Access It)
ChatGPT conversation history is stored on OpenAI's servers, tied to your account, not on your device. This guide explains exactly where your chats live, how cross-device access works, what stays local, and how to keep your own copy.
AI Conversation Privacy Explained: What's Stored, What's Trained On, What Stays Local
When you chat with ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or any other AI tool, three different privacy questions are in play: what is stored, what is used for training, and what stays on your device. This guide separates them clearly and explains how to take meaningful control.
Perplexity Memory vs Conversation History: What's the Difference?
Perplexity has two systems that involve storing information about you: Memory (facts about your preferences and context) and conversation history (the Library of past searches). This guide explains how each works, what it stores, and how to control both.
Does Gemini's Memory Import Actually Work? Here's What It Really Does
Gemini's memory import sounds like a convenience. Here's what actually happens to your data, including why opt-outs from ChatGPT and Claude don't follow.
AI Conversation History Limits Compared
How many conversations ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Grok and more actually save, and how long they keep them, compared in one clear table.
Claude Projects vs Conversation History: What's the Difference?
Claude has two overlapping systems for organising your AI work: Projects and conversation history. They serve different purposes and have different capabilities. This guide explains how each works, how to set up Projects effectively, and how to use them together.
Gemini Memory vs Conversation History Explained
Gemini has two systems: Apps Activity (history) and personalised memory. Here is what each does, how to control them, and what neither covers.
Perplexity Spaces vs Conversation History: How to Organise Your Research
Perplexity has two overlapping ways to manage your research: conversation history in your Library and Spaces for organised, collaborative research. This guide explains how each works, how to create and use Spaces effectively, and how to combine them for serious research workflows.
ChatGPT Memory vs Conversation History: What's the Difference?
ChatGPT has two distinct systems that both involve 'remembering' things: Memory and conversation history. They serve completely different purposes and have different controls. This guide explains how each works and what you can do with them.
ChatGPT Projects vs Conversation History: What's the Difference?
ChatGPT Projects and conversation history are both ways of organising your ChatGPT use, but they work very differently. This guide explains what each does, how they interact, and when to use which.