Training on user data
Also: used for training, training opt-out, improve the model for everyone
Whether the company may use what you type to teach its future models. Many free apps do unless you turn it off.
Document stays on the machine. Only people with access to that machine can see it.
Document travels to the company’s servers. What happens next depends on your plan and settings: stored for a while, used for training, or deleted after the answer.
The app looks the same either way. The settings and the contract are where the difference lives.
The fuller definition
Training on user data means a provider may use submitted prompts, files, or feedback to improve future models. Consumer products often allow this by default; business and API terms usually exclude it.
Go deeper
- Your computer
- Model running on it
- Answer stays on it
Confidentiality depends on the machine and anything else connected to it.
- Your computer
- Provider's servers
- Storage, logs, possibly training
- Answer returned
Confidentiality depends on the contract, the account tier, and the settings in force.
Neither route is safe by default. The question is the same for both: who can see the material, where is it kept, and for how long.
A concrete example
A consumer chat account has a setting to stop its conversations being used to improve the model. An enterprise plan excludes training by contract.
The distinction that matters
Not used for training does not mean not stored or not visible to the provider's staff. Read the retention and access terms separately.
Related terms
Data retention
How long a service keeps your data after it has been used.
Reliability & securityZero data retention
A promise from the provider not to keep your prompts and files after answering.
Reliability & securityConfidentiality
Keeping private material from people who may not see it. Check who can read, store, or share what you put into a tool.
Where it is taught
Map where information goes before using a toolSource and further reading
Anthropic · Evaluating AI agentsThe definition and example are written for this library. The link gives background, official documentation or legal authority as labelled. Legal scope depends on the jurisdiction and current text; product features depend on release and settings.