Delete Private Data from Google Gemini AI: Step-by-Step
“Well, count me foolish,” is how I kick off the video below, and rightly so. I recently made a significant error that required a swift solution. What happened?
STOP! Why Sharing Your Private Data with ANY AI (Like Gemini) Is A HUGE Mistake
While using Google Gemini (their impressive chat tool, which we have a handy video guide for both novices and experts HERE), I presumed that comparing two insurance policies was a harmless task. To simplify my comparison, I decided to upload a screenshot of one of my existing policies. The catch? That screenshot revealed all my personal details—my phone number, home address, and policy specifics—everything I certainly don’t want circulating on the internet.
Although I managed to rectify the situation, this experience highlighted a critical lesson that all users of AI tools must grasp.
The Frightening Reality: Your Data Becomes AI Food
Here’s the startling reality you must understand about all Large Language Models (LLMs) such as Gemini, ChatGPT, Claude, and other similar tools that allow file uploads or interactions: They don’t forget, and your input is not seen as just a one-off event.
Every piece of information you share with these AI platforms—be it a brief text prompt, an elaborate spreadsheet, or an image file—is typically treated as usable data. That means your personal details, like the contract you uploaded or sensitive information in your insurance document, can be integrated into the AI’s learning process.
The Threat: Your Policy May Appear in Someone Else’s Chat
So, what does it entail when your data is used for training?
It implies that your confidential screenshot document, laden with your private phone number and address, could be processed by the AI system. When another user, perhaps a complete stranger, poses a vaguely related question, your private details might resurface as part of their response, summary, or output.
Imagine asking Gemini, “What are typical policy exclusions for a home in [Your Town Name]?” The AI could inadvertently reference the text from your uploaded policy, including your name or policy number, in its reply.
Now that’s alarming! We’re talking about the potential exposure of personally identifiable information (PII) to the entire user base of a significant AI platform.
The Takeaway: Prevention Is the Best Solution
Indeed, there are steps you can adopt to delete your activity.
- Quickly navigate to the chat thread and select “Delete” if you acted fast.
- Alternatively, visit myactivity.google.com, choose “Delete Activity By”, filter down to the Gemini category, and specify a time period (like the last hour or day) to PERMANENTLY REMOVE your chat history and uploaded files from the system.
I opted for the latter, and it worked—my embarrassing and potentially risky chat history disappeared.
Conclusion
The golden rule is to NEVER upload sensitive documents to any AI tool in the first place. You can’t rely on a digital eraser to function flawlessly every single time. Treat every AI chat window like a public forum, or at best, an intern’s temporary email account. Once you hit “enter” or “upload,” your data may be accessible to the AI for future use. Safeguard your information—stop sharing your private life with AI.
