Is ChatGPT safe to use?

ChatGPT is safe for most people to use, as long as you use it sensibly. It is made by an established company, and the main risks are ones you can manage: sharing too much personal information, trusting wrong answers, and falling for fake ChatGPT apps. A few good habits and one settings check cover almost all of it.

In this guide, you will learn what happens to what you type, what to keep private, how to spot fakes, and what parents should know.

What happens to what I type into ChatGPT?

When you send a message, it travels to OpenAI’s computers, which work out a reply and send it back. Your conversation is then saved to your account so you can come back to it later.

The part worth knowing about is training. AI models learn from huge collections of text, called training data. As of September 2026, on personal ChatGPT accounts, your conversations may be used to help improve future versions unless you switch that off. Business and education accounts are generally kept out of training by default.

The good news is that you are in control. Here is how, in general terms, as of September 2026:

• Stop training: in ChatGPT’s settings, under data controls, there is an option about improving the model for everyone. Turn it off and your new conversations will not be used for training. They still appear in your history.
• Use a temporary chat: this mode does not save the conversation to your history or use it for training. OpenAI may keep it for a short period for safety checks before deleting it.
• Delete what you no longer need: you can clear individual chats or your whole history.

Menus move when apps update, so if you cannot find these, look for “data controls” or “privacy” in the settings. Our guide on whether AI learns from your conversations explains the difference between memory and training in more depth.

What should I never share with ChatGPT?

Even with training switched off, treat ChatGPT a little like a postcard rather than a sealed letter. Keep these out:

• Passwords, PINs, and security codes
• Bank or card details
• Your full address, passport, or National Insurance number
• Medical records or detailed health information
• Private information about other people
• Confidential work documents, unless your employer has approved it

You can still get help with personal matters. Describe the situation without names or identifying details, and you will get almost the same quality of answer. Our guide on protecting your privacy with AI has more ideas.

Are there fake ChatGPT apps?

Yes, and this is one of the more practical risks. Because ChatGPT is so popular, copycat apps and websites use its name and logo. Some charge for things that are free, some collect your personal details, and a few install harmful software.

To stay on the safe side:

• Use ChatGPT at chatgpt.com, or download the app only from the official Apple App Store or Google Play.
• Check that the developer is listed as OpenAI.
• Do not download “ChatGPT” from a link in an advert, email, text, or social media post.
• Be wary of anyone asking you to pay to “unlock” ChatGPT outside the official app.

Our guide on how to spot AI scams covers the wider warning signs.

Can I trust ChatGPT’s answers?

Mostly, but not blindly. ChatGPT can state something wrong with total confidence, which is known as a hallucination. That is harmless when you are brainstorming, and it matters when the answer affects your health, money, or legal position.

For anything important, ask it where the information comes from, then check with a source you already trust, such as the NHS website, your bank, or a qualified professional.

Is ChatGPT safe for children?

It is not designed for young children. As of September 2026, OpenAI’s terms say users must be at least 13, and anyone under 18 needs a parent’s or guardian’s permission. Some countries set a higher minimum age, so check the rules where you live.

OpenAI also offers parental controls. A parent can link to a teenager’s account to reduce sensitive content, set quiet hours, and switch off some features. These controls do not let a parent read the teen’s conversations. For younger children, the safest approach is to use AI together, side by side. Our guide on AI safety for families goes further.

Your ChatGPT safety checklist

Run through this once and you have covered the main risks:

1. Use the official website or the app from OpenAI in an official app store.
2. Check the data controls and decide whether your chats can be used for training.
3. Use a temporary chat for anything you would rather not keep.
4. Keep passwords, financial details, and other people’s information out.
5. Check any important fact before acting on it.
6. If you are a parent, check the age rules and consider parental controls.

Try it yourself

Before you share anything personal, you can ask ChatGPT what it actually needs to know. Copy this prompt and fill in the bracket:

I would like help with a personal situation: [describe it in one
line, without names or details]. Before I share anything more,
tell me which details you actually need to give me good advice,
and which I can leave out or replace with placeholders like [NAME]
to protect my privacy.

You will often find it needs far less personal information than you expected.

Next steps

ChatGPT is a safe, useful tool when you use it with a little care. To round out your safety habits, our guide on fact-checking AI answers gives you a quick routine for checking anything that matters.