Building a Bot

Now, create your own prompt giving instructions to a chatbot on how to talk to you. Decide on the role for your chatbot and fill in the parts of the prompt.

When you’ve finished, write a paragraph that explains:

• Why you chose that role
• What risks might come from talking to a chatbot in that role
• How your prompt would limit those risks

Prompt instructions only affect how the chatbot responds to you. They can’t keep the company from recording what you say, collecting data from your device, or selling information about you. Go to the privacy settings of the chat AI app or site and look for phrases like “Opt out”, “Turn off”, “Chat history” or “Training.”

Use privacy-protecting browser plugins like Privacy Badger. On iOS devices, make sure that you have set the app (or your browser) to “Ask App Not to Track”. On Android devices, use an app like DuckDuckGo that offers App Tracking Protection.

Remember that even if you do these things, anything you say to a chatbot might be recorded, seen, and shared by the company, or by hackers who get access to their servers. You can read privacy reviews of different chatbots searching “ Mozilla Foundation Chatbots | Privacy & Security Guide” online.

Talking to chatbots is not the same as getting real help. If you have problems you can’t talk about with anyone you know, visit Kids Help Phone at kidshelpphone.ca or by texting CONNECT to 686868.