99 verified AI tips

Desktop Go to chatgpt.com. Type it yourself rather than clicking ads.

Phone App Store or Google Play. The publisher must read OpenAI.

Copycat apps with similar names and icons exist and some charge fees. Check the publisher before you install.

Both Sign up with email, or with your Google, Apple or Microsoft account.

The free plan is enough to learn on. Use a personal email for personal use. For work, ask your employer first; they may already provide an approved version.

Desktop Your name › Settings › Security and login › Multi-factor authentication (MFA)

Phone Set it up on the web at chatgpt.com. It protects your account on every device.

Choose an authenticator app or a passkey if offered. Your chats can hold personal details, so protect the account like your email.

Desktop Settings › Data controls › Improve the model for everyone

Phone iPhone: three dots at the top right › Settings › Data controls › Improve the model for everyone. Android: menu (three lines) at the top left › Settings › Data controls › Improve the model for everyone.

Switch it off if you would rather your conversations are not used to improve OpenAI's models. Your chats still save to your history either way.

Desktop Settings › Personalization › Custom instructions. Make sure Enable customization is on.

Phone iPhone: three dots at the top right › Settings › Customize ChatGPT. Android: menu (three lines) at the top left › Settings › Customize ChatGPT. Make sure Enable customization is on.

Add your role, your country and how you like answers. Example: "I'm a practice manager in Australia. Use Australian English. Keep answers short and plain, with steps where useful." It applies to every new chat.

Desktop Settings › Personalization › Memory

In chat Ask "What do you remember about me?" Say "Forget that" to remove something.

Memory makes answers more personal over time. Review it now and then, and delete anything you would not want kept. Deleting a memory does not remove it from past chats, so delete those chats too if needed.

Both Open a new chat, select Temporary, then choose Personalized or Unpersonalized before you send your first message. Unpersonalized ignores your memory and custom instructions.

Keyboard Ctrl Shift N (Mac Cmd Shift N) in the desktop app

It stays out of your history, does not update memory and is not used for training. OpenAI may still keep a copy for up to 30 days for safety checks.

Both See the list at the end of this sheet. Remove names and numbers before you paste, or describe the situation instead.

Treat anything you type as something that could be stored. Privacy settings reduce risk; they do not remove it.

Both Plans include Free, Go, Plus and Pro. Compare current prices at chatgpt.com/pricing.

Free includes everyday text chats. Uploads, images, voice and other tools have tighter limits, so upgrade only if you keep hitting them. Plans bought on chatgpt.com are charged in Australian dollars. Free and Go accounts may see ads; you can switch off Personalize ads in Settings › Ad controls.

Desktop Go to claude.ai, or install the desktop app from claude.com/download.

Phone App Store or Google Play. Search for Claude by Anthropic and check the developer is Anthropic.

Copycat apps exist. Check the developer name before you install, and never pay for an app that claims to be Claude from another company.

Both Sign in with Google, or enter your email and use the link Claude sends you. If you open the link on a different device, it gives you a code to type in. New accounts also verify a mobile number by text message.

There is no Claude password to set. Each sign-in comes through your email or Google account, so those accounts are your front door. You must be 18 or older to use Claude.

Email Turn on two-step verification on the email account you signed up with.

Google myaccount.google.com › Security & sign-in › 2-Step Verification

There is no Claude password, so whoever controls your email or Google account can get into Claude. Secure that account first.

Desktop Your name › Settings › Privacy › Help Improve our AI models

Phone Your name › Settings › Privacy, same toggle

Switch it off if you would rather your conversations are not used to train future models. Once it is off, your new and past chats are not used in future training, but anything already used stays there. If you leave it on, chats can be kept for up to 5 years for training.

Both Your name › Settings › Your Claude › Instructions. On the older layout it is Settings › Account › Instructions for Claude.

Add your role, your country and how you like answers. Example: "I'm a bookkeeper in Perth. Use Australian English. Keep answers short and plain." It applies to all your chats.

Desktop Settings › Your Claude › Memory from chats, then Manage next to Your memory to review the Topics list. On the older layout it is Settings › Memory › Generate memory from chats.

In chat Ask "What do you remember about me?" and tell it to change or forget anything.

Memory is on by default on Free, Pro, Max and Ultra. You can read, edit or delete every topic it holds, so check it once after your first week.

Both Start a new chat, then tap the ghost icon at the top right before you type.

Incognito chats stay out of your history, are not used for memory and are not used for training, even if training is on. Anthropic still keeps them for 30 days for safety. You can't use incognito inside a Project.

Both See the list at the end of this sheet. Remove names and numbers before you paste, or describe the situation instead.

Treat anything you type as something that could be stored. Privacy settings reduce risk; they do not remove it.

Both Plans for individuals are Free, Pro, Max and Ultra; Team and Enterprise are for organisations. Compare current prices at claude.com/pricing, or in the app store on your phone.

Free is enough to learn on. Upgrade when you often hit the usage limit, not before. Prices show in your local currency where Anthropic supports it, and buying through the App Store or Google Play can cost a different amount. Check the price before you pay.

Desktop Go to gemini.google.com.

Phone Android: Google Play (Android 9 or later). iPhone: App Store. Check the publisher is Google.

Gemini is part of your Google account, so there is no separate sign-up. If you already use Gmail, you already have access. You must be 13 or over; younger children need a parent's approval through Family Link.

Both Tap your profile picture to check which account is signed in before your first chat.

Chats and settings follow the account. Keep personal use on your personal Gmail. A work account may be managed by your employer, with different rules.

Both myaccount.google.com › Security & sign-in › How you sign in to Google › 2-Step Verification

Gemini is only as secure as your Google account. Two-step verification, ideally with a passkey or phone prompt, stops most account takeovers.

Desktop Settings & help › Activity. Near the top, click On, then Turn off or Turn off and delete activity.

Phone Profile picture › Gemini Apps Activity (on some phones, Menu first), tap On, then Turn off.

Keep Activity is on by default if you are 18 or over. With it on, a subset of chats may be read by human reviewers (disconnected from your account), and reviewed chats are kept for up to three years even if you delete your activity. With it off, chats are held for 72 hours, are not used to improve Google's AI models, and connected apps such as Gmail and Drive stop working in Gemini. If you keep it on, change auto-delete from the default 18 months to 3 months.

Desktop Settings & help › Personal Intelligence › Instructions for Gemini › Add

Phone Profile picture › Personal Intelligence › Instructions for Gemini

Add your role, your city and how you like answers. Example: "I run a small landscaping business in Adelaide. Use Australian English. Keep answers short."

Desktop Settings & help › Personal Intelligence › Memory

Phone Profile picture › Personal Intelligence › Memory

Memory lets Gemini draw on your earlier conversations. It works only for personal accounts aged 18 or over, and only while Keep Activity is on. Turn it off if you would rather each chat start clean.

Desktop Next to New chat, click Temporary chat before you type.

Phone Tap Menu at the top, then Temporary chat next to New chat.

Temporary chats are not saved to your activity, are not used to personalise Gemini and are not used to train Google's models. Google holds them for up to 72 hours, then deletes them.

Both See the list at the end of this sheet. Remove names and numbers before you paste, or describe the situation instead.

Treat anything you type as something that could be stored. Privacy settings reduce risk; they do not remove it.

Both Free is generous. Paid tiers are Google AI Plus, Google AI Pro and Google AI Ultra; compare at one.google.com/ai.

Most beginners never need to pay. Upgrade when you want the stronger models daily, higher limits or more storage across Gmail, Drive and Photos, not before.

Desktop Go to copilot.com, or open the Copilot app already on Windows 11.

Phone App Store or Google Play. Check the publisher is Microsoft.

Copilot now comes as one app for personal and work accounts. Sign in with your personal account for personal use. Copilot inside Word or Teams at work is managed by your employer.

Both Use the account you use for Outlook.com, Xbox or Windows. Create one free at account.microsoft.com if needed.

Signing in saves your chats; history only works when you are signed in. You can also sign in with Apple or Google, but a Microsoft account links Copilot to your Microsoft privacy dashboard. Keep personal use on a personal account rather than a work or school one.

Both account.microsoft.com › Security › Manage how I sign in › Additional security › Two-step verification › Turn on

Copilot is only as secure as your Microsoft account. The Microsoft Authenticator app is the simplest second step.

Both Update the app first. Microsoft states that in the updated app (from 18 August 2026) your prompts, responses and file contents are not used to train its foundation models, so there is no training switch to find. Your chats are still used to run and improve the service.

Older versions of the app had training toggles under Privacy. If you still see them, your app has not updated; switch both off. Chats are still saved to your account, so the next three steps matter.

Both Settings › Personalization: One shared experience (lets your Copilot use personalise Bing, Edge and MSN) and Allow ads personalization

Check both; Microsoft does not state the default. Switch them off if you would rather your Copilot use stayed inside Copilot and did not shape the ads you see.

Both Settings › Personalization › Saved memories, then Manage

In chat Say "Remember that I run a plumbing business in Geelong and prefer short answers in Australian English." to add one.

The Saved memories switch stops Copilot saving new memories, but does not delete the ones already saved. Use Manage to delete single memories, or Delete all memories to clear the lot. Deleting memories does not delete your chats.

Both In the Chats list, open the three dots (More) next to a chat, or right-click it in the Windows or Mac app, and choose Delete. To clear everything, go to account.microsoft.com/privacy/copilot, select Delete all activity history, then Clear.

The personal Copilot app has no documented temporary chat, so delete a sensitive chat afterwards. Otherwise Copilot keeps up to 18 months of chat history.

Both See the list at the end of this sheet. Remove names and numbers before you paste, or describe the situation instead.

Treat anything you type as something that could be stored. Privacy settings reduce risk; they do not remove it.

Both Free Copilot has limits and depends on capacity. Microsoft 365 Personal or Family adds higher limits and Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook for the account owner. Premium adds extensive usage, and a Microsoft 365 Pro plan with the highest limits is sold month to month. Compare at microsoft.com/en-au/copilot/pricing/individuals.

Pay only if you hit limits often or want Copilot in Word and Excel at home. Copilot Pro is no longer sold. Prices are shown in Australian dollars.

Desktop Go to grok.com.

Phone App Store or Google Play. Check the developer is xAI (shown as X.AI or SpaceXAI on some stores).

Grok is also built into the X app, where it appears as a Grok button in the navigation bar. The standalone app and grok.com give you the full settings described below.

Both Sign in with your X account, Google or Apple, or with an email address. You will be asked for your date of birth.

You must be 13 or older, and a parent must agree to the terms for anyone aged 13 to 17. Grok's output is not always suitable for all ages, so it is not a tool for younger children.

X account x.com › Settings and privacy › Security and account access › Security › Two-factor authentication

Google or Apple Turn on two-step verification on whichever account you used to sign in.

If you signed in with X, Google or Apple, that account is the key to Grok. Whoever controls it can get into Grok, so secure that account first. If you signed up with an email address, use a strong, unique password.

Grok app Settings › Data Controls › Improve the model, switch off

grok.com Settings › Data › Improve the Model, switch off

Inside X Settings › Privacy & Safety › Data sharing and personalization › Grok & Third-party Collaborators, untick the option beginning "Allow your public data as well as your interactions"

Once off, new conversations are not used for training. Feedback you send with the thumbs buttons may still be used. Inside X, protecting your posts (Audience and tagging › Protect your posts) also keeps them out of Grok training.

Both There is no instructions box documented by SpaceXSI, so put your context in the first line of a chat. Example: "I run a small landscaping business in Adelaide. Use Australian English and keep answers short."

Grok on X can personalise answers from your X activity. To stop that, switch off Personalize Grok using X under Settings › Data Controls in the Grok app, or Settings › Data on grok.com.

Grok app Press and hold a conversation name under your profile picture, then Delete Conversation. For everything: Settings › Data Controls › Delete All Conversations.

grok.com Use the bin icon on the history page for one chat, or Settings to delete all chats or your account.

Inside X Settings › Privacy & Safety › Data sharing and personalization › Grok › Delete Conversation History

Deleted conversations are removed from SpaceXSI or X systems within 30 days, unless they must be kept for security or legal reasons.

Both Click the ghost icon at the top right before you type.

Private Chat conversations do not appear in your history, are not used for model training where that is available, and are deleted from SpaceXSI systems within 30 days.

Both See the list at the end of this sheet. Remove names and numbers before you paste, or describe the situation instead.

Treat anything you type as something that could be stored. Privacy settings reduce risk; they do not remove it.

Both SpaceXSI says limited free access and paid plans are available depending on your location. Compare current plans and prices at grok.com or in the app. Inside X, Grok access follows your X subscription.

Free access is enough to learn on. Upgrade when you often hit the limits, not before, and check the price shown for Australia before you pay.

Desktop Go to perplexity.ai, or install the desktop app from the same site.

Phone App Store or Google Play. Check the developer is Perplexity AI, Inc.

You can ask questions without signing in, but you need an account to save sessions, upload more files or use Pro Search.

Both Sign in with Google or Apple (Perplexity's recommended option), or enter your email and use the link or one-time code it sends.

There is no Perplexity password to set. Perplexity says it does not support creating passwords, so your Google, Apple or email account is the front door.

Email, Google or Apple Turn on two-step verification on the account you signed in with.

Perplexity Perplexity may ask you to verify your phone number by SMS; it is not a setting you switch on.

Whoever controls the account you signed in with can get into Perplexity, so secure that account first.

Both Account › Preferences › AI data retention, switch off (or open perplexity.ai/account/preferences)

AI data retention is on by default on Free, Pro and Max. Switching it off opts you out of AI training data collection from that date on; data already collected cannot be erased. Core features keep working.

Both Settings › Personalization (called Personalize on some accounts): add your occupation, turn on Share location if you want local answers, and use Custom instructions to say how you like answers.

Perplexity uses the profile to shape answers. Example: "Community nurse in regional Victoria. Use Australian English. Keep answers short, with sources."

Both Settings › Memory: the Use search history and Notes switches, and Manage memories to search, delete one or clear all

Switching memory off stops Perplexity referencing it, but existing memories stay until you clear them under Manage memories. Memory and past searches are always off in incognito mode.

Both Click the incognito icon at the top right before you type. Click it again to leave.

Incognito sessions are not saved to your library, do not use memory or past searches, and expire within 24 hours. They cannot be recovered.

Both See the list at the end of this sheet. Remove names and numbers before you paste, or describe the situation instead.

Treat anything you type as something that could be stored. Privacy settings reduce risk; they do not remove it.

Both Plans are Standard (free), Pro and Max, plus Education Pro for verified students and educators. Compare at perplexity.ai/pro.

Free gives practically unlimited basic searches, a few Pro Searches a day, one Research query a month and limited uploads. Upgrade when you hit those limits often, not before, and check the price shown for Australia before you pay.

For anything important, end with this line.

"Ask me 3 questions before you start."

For anything important, end with this line.

"Ask me 3 questions before you start."

For anything important, end with this line.

"Ask me 3 questions before you start."

For anything important, end with this line.

"Ask me 3 questions before you start."