AI에 넣지 말아야 할 것

AI chatbots have become an everyday work tool. People paste in meeting notes, draft emails and spreadsheets and ask for a summary in seconds. It is easy to forget a simple fact: whatever you type is sent to a server outside your company.

What happens to it next depends on the service and your settings. The text is usually stored, at least for a while. On some personal accounts it may also be used to train future models, unless you turn that option off. Many business plans promise not to train on customer data.X-ray Your words will not suddenly appear on a stranger’s screen. The real risk is different. A copy now exists in a place that your company does not control.X-ray That alone can break a contract with a client or weaken the legal protection of a trade secret.

A short list of things should never go into a public AI tool. The first is personal identification, such as ID numbers, bank account numbers and passport numbers. The second is anything that opens a door: passwords, access codes and API keys. The third is lists of customers’ or employees’ contact details. The fourth is information that has not been released yet, such as quarterly results before they are announced or decisions about staff. The last is original files that a client has shared with you.

This does not mean you have to stop using AI. Usually you can replace the sensitive parts instead of deleting the whole task. Write “Client A” instead of the client’s name. Give a range such as “between 10 and 20 percent” instead of the exact figure. Keep the table that links the fake names to the real ones on your own computer, not in the chat.

Be careful with small pieces, too. A project code name, a city and a launch month may each be harmless. Put together, they can point clearly to one company. Screenshots are another common leak. Browser tabs, file paths and pop-up messages often show more than the part you meant to share.

Before you press enter, ask yourself a quick question: would I be happy if this text were read by someone outside the company? If the answer is no, change it or leave it out. Your company’s own AI rules come first, so read them. But fear should not stop you from using these tools. Used with care, they can save hours every week.