You Can Ask AI to Build Simple Tools Instead of Uploading Your Files

A technology journalist needed to edit PDF files but was concerned about uploading sensitive documents to ChatGPT or other AI services. Instead of giving his files to the AI, he tried something different. He asked ChatGPT to write simple software code that would create a PDF editor running on his own computer. The AI wrote the code, he ran it on his machine, and it worked. The entire process took about as long as making dinner. This approach matters for anyone who has considered using AI tools like ChatGPT to help with documents containing private information. When you upload files to an AI service, you are sending your data to that company's servers.

Your family photos, financial records, work documents, or personal letters could potentially be stored or used to train future AI models. By having the AI write software that runs locally on your computer instead, your files never leave your device.

If you have basic computer skills and need to work with private files, consider this approach. First, identify what you need to do with your files. Second, ask an AI like ChatGPT to write code that performs that specific task. Be clear about what you need. Third, follow the AI's instructions for running the code on your computer. Most AI systems can write code in Python, which is free and relatively easy to set up. Fourth, test the software on a non-sensitive file first to make sure it works correctly before using it on important documents. This method requires more technical knowledge than simply uploading files to an AI service, so it will not work for everyone. However, it demonstrates an important principle for protecting your privacy. Before giving your personal information or files to any online service, ask whether there is an alternative that keeps your data under your control. Sometimes the extra effort to protect your privacy is worth it, especially for sensitive documents like tax returns, medical records, or confidential work files.