AQ'S Corner

Whether we planned for it or not, AI is already living in our homes. From kids using ChatGPT to finish homework, to parents asking it for dinner ideas or chore charts, artificial intelligence has slid into our everyday lives like a quiet houseguest. But here’s the kicker: that houseguest might be taking notes. If we’re going to share our homes with tools like ChatGPT, we owe it to ourselves and our kids to understand how it works, how much privacy we have, and how to set digital boundaries that protect our families.

What OpenAI’s CEO Wants You to Know About Privacy

Back in May 2023, during a U.S. Senate hearing that’s only now gaining mainstream attention, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman (yes, the guy behind ChatGPT) said something that families in 2025 really need to hear:

“People deserve to know when they’re interacting with AI and what happens to their data.”

At the time, his testimony didn’t make major waves outside of tech circles. But now that ChatGPT is part of everyday family life, from homework help to parenting tips, his words are suddenly front and center.

Altman explained that ChatGPT does not train its models on conversations from paid users by default and that people can turn off chat history to limit data sharing. That’s a good start.

But he didn’t sugarcoat it either. He gave a truth bomb that’s aging like prophecy:

“There is no such thing as perfect privacy on the internet.”

Translation? Even if you use all the right settings and safety tools, nothing you type into an AI platform is ever 100% private. That’s the digital reality we’re parenting in, and it’s up to us to help our families navigate it with eyes wide open.

Why This Matters for Families

AI is helpful. It can break down long-winded school assignments, generate dinner ideas, write bedtime stories, or even help parents manage screen time. It feels like a friendly assistant. But it’s not your friend. And it definitely shouldn’t be your family therapist.

Here’s what you need to keep in mind:

• ChatGPT stores your conversations unless you tell it not to.
  
• Real people may review your chats to improve the AI model.
  
• Sharing personal details, names, addresses, and schools can put your family’s privacy at risk.
  
• Kids may see ChatGPT as a trusted “person,” but it doesn’t have feelings, ethics, or real understanding.
  

How to Use ChatGPT Safely in Your Home

Let’s not toss AI out the window; it can be an amazing tool when used with intention. Here are smart, family-friendly ways to use ChatGPT without sacrificing your household’s privacy.

1. Plan Meals, Not Share Medical Histories

Use ChatGPT to brainstorm dinner plans, but don’t overshare about food allergies or family health issues.

✅ Try this:

“Give me five budget-friendly vegetarian dinners my kids will love.”

🚫 Avoid this:

“My daughter Madison has a soy allergy, and my son was recently diagnosed with IBS. Can you help with meal planning?”

2. Get Homework Help Without Giving Away the Assignment

Let ChatGPT explain concepts, don’t use it to do the work. And don’t upload full assignments or personal school details.

✅ Try this:

“Explain long division for a 3rd grader.”

🚫 Avoid this:

“Here’s my son Elijah’s full math worksheet from Spring Creek Elementary. Can you solve it?”

3. Create Family Stories, But Keep Them Fictional

ChatGPT is great for storytelling! Just make sure your family’s names, neighborhood, or school isn’t part of the plot.

✅ Try this:

“Write a bedtime story about a girl who finds a magical flashlight in the woods.”

🚫 Avoid this:

“Write a story using my daughter’s name, birthdate, and the park we go to every weekend.”

4. Parenting Support, Without the Overshare

ChatGPT can offer guidance on screen time, bedtime routines, or age-appropriate chores. Just don’t treat it like a therapist.

✅ Try this:

“What’s a good daily screen time limit for a 9-year-old during summer break?”

🚫 Avoid this:

“My ex and I are fighting over how much Roblox our son plays. What should I do?”

The Real Deal: Online Privacy Is an Illusion

Even when a tool has the best privacy policy in the world, nothing on the internet is 100% private. Not AI. Not apps. Not even encrypted platforms. Data leaks, policy changes, or human error can expose what you thought was safe. So adopt this family rule of thumb: “If we wouldn’t want it on a billboard, we don’t type it into a bot.”

Your Family’s AI Privacy Checklist

Turn Off Chat History in ChatGPT
This reduces the chance your chats are used to train AI or seen by moderators.

Use It Together
If your kids are using ChatGPT, join the fun. Keep an eye on how it’s being used and what’s being shared.

Keep Personal Info Out of Prompts
Never type names, addresses, school names, medical info, or anything sensitive.

Talk About AI Like It’s a Tool
Not a friend. Not a teacher. Not a truth-teller. It’s a tool, and your family is in charge.

Read the Privacy Settings (Even Just Once!)
Take 5 minutes to review OpenAI’s data use policy and learn what happens to your chats.

Raising Cyber-Smart Families in an AI World

We don’t need to fear tools like ChatGPT; we just need to understand them. AI isn’t going anywhere. It’s in our homes, our schools, our jobs, and our everyday choices. But we’re not powerless in this new world; we’re the gatekeepers, the guides, the ones teaching our families how to navigate it all with wisdom and confidence. By setting healthy digital boundaries, asking better questions, and keeping privacy top of mind, we can raise children who know how to use AI safely, creatively, and responsibly. That’s what it means to build a CyberHero household, not by banning the tech, but by leading with intention and teaching our kids how to own their space in the digital age.

📎 Resource Link:

Source: U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology & the Law hearing, “Oversight of A.I.: Rules for Artificial Intelligence,” May 16, 2023