Field Notes: Your Questions
The ten questions readers send us most often, answered briefly. Each answer points to the chapter with the full detail.
1. Can I trust what an AI chatbot tells me?
Trust it for wording and structure, not for facts. Verify names, numbers, dates and claims against an original or official source. See Chapter 1.4.
2. Is my chat used to train the AI?
It depends on the service and your settings. Many tools, including ChatGPT, offer a setting to stop chats being used for training. Business plans often exclude training by default. See Chapter 4.2.
3. Do I need to pay for an AI tool?
Free tiers handle most everyday drafting and summarising. Paid plans add higher limits, newer models and sometimes stronger data terms. Try the free version first and pay only when you hit a real limit.
4. Is my smart speaker recording everything?
Mainstream speakers listen locally for a wake word and send audio only after detecting it. False triggers happen, so review and delete your voice history and use the mute button. See Chapter 3.4.
5. Can I use AI for medical, legal or money advice?
Use it to understand terms and prepare questions, then confirm with a qualified professional. AI tools are not regulated advisers and do not know your full situation.
6. How do I spot an AI voice-clone scam?
Be wary of urgent calls asking for money or secrecy. Hang up and call back on a known number, and agree a family code word in advance. See Chapter 2.4.
7. Is it cheating to use AI for school work?
Rules vary by school and course. Check the institution's policy and declare AI help where required.
8. Can I sell images made with an AI generator?
Check the tool's terms of use, which set commercial rights. Copyright rules for AI output differ by country and are still developing. See Chapter 2.2.
9. What should I never type into an AI tool?
Passwords, bank or card details, government ID numbers, health records and confidential work or client information.
10. How do I delete my data from an AI service?
Use the history and account deletion options in settings. In the UK and EU you can also make a data deletion or access request under the GDPR. See Chapter 4.3.