Lesson 5 of 6 · 8 min
Safe habits for everyday AI
What never goes into a prompt, how to strip out personal details, and simple habits that prevent most problems.
Never put these into an AI tool that is not approved for them
Keep these out unless your organization has approved the specific tool for that specific information.
- Names together with grades, health, case notes, behavior or discipline
- ID numbers, Social Security numbers, birth dates or home addresses
- Income, benefits, immigration or housing status
- Passwords, API keys or anything that unlocks a system
Strip it before you send it
Most tasks do not need real identities. To get help writing a note, describe the situation instead: a parent of two who just lost their job and needs help with rent. Replace names with placeholders such as Person A and remove dates and places that could identify someone.
Some products do this automatically, detecting and masking personal details before text reaches the AI. That helps, but automated masking misses things, so the habit of not pasting it in the first place still matters.
Small habits that prevent big problems
None of these take more than a few seconds.
- Use the approved tool, signed in with your work account, not a personal one.
- Share the minimum: only the part of the document the task needs.
- Review AI output before it goes to a person, a record or a decision.
- Delete chats you no longer need if the tool lets you.
Lesson quiz
Get 3 of 4 right to pass.