AI chatbots are everywhere these days—helping you write emails, answer questions, or even plan your day. But have you ever stopped to wonder how much personal information they have access to while they help you?
This article sheds more light on that. It ranks some of the most popular AI chatbots by how much data they collect from users—and the differences are pretty eye-opening.
Top 7 AI Chatbots by Data Collection
The study evaluated various AI chatbots based on the number of personal data points they collect. Here is how they rank:
Gemini (Google) – Collects 22 data points
Google’s Gemini collects the most personal information out of all the chatbots on the list. It grabs your name, email, phone number, where you are, what you type into it, files you upload, and even keeps track of what you browse online and what you buy. It uses all this info to give you a personalized experience—but that also raises big questions about your privacy.
Claude (Anthropic) – Collects 13 data points
Claude collects a good amount of personal data, including your name, location, and what you say to the bot. However, it does not go as far as Gemini—it does not seem to track your shopping or browsing history as closely, which makes it a bit more privacy-friendly.
Copilot (Microsoft) – Collects 12 data points
Microsoft’s Copilot AI gathers information concerning your content, interactions, devices, and usage behaviors. This may involve your tasks, questions, and also app-related information to enhance its services. Gathering device details and browsing habits contributes an extra level of personalization, although it is quite mild when compared to other platforms such as Gemini.
DeepSeek – Collects 11 data points
DeepSeek aligns somewhat with Copilot but gathers a smaller number of data points in total. It collects crucial elements such as user content, location, and device details, yet it appears less intrusive regarding the monitoring of browsing and purchasing habits.
ChatGPT (OpenAI) – Collects 10 data points
ChatGPT mainly focuses on your conversations—what you ask and how you use the chatbot. It also collects some info about your device. OpenAI gives you some control over what is stored, and while they do use conversations to improve the AI, they are more transparent than some others.
Perplexity – Collects 10 data points
Perplexity collects similar types of data as ChatGPT—what you say, what device you use, and how often you interact with it. It does not seem to follow your shopping habits or track what websites you visit, which keeps it relatively moderate on the privacy scale.
Grok (xAI) – Collects 7 data points(Business Day)
Grok collects the least amount of data. It mostly grabs basic stuff like your name and how you use the bot—but it does not keep tabs on what you are shopping for or browsing online. If you care a lot about privacy, Grok is the least invasive option on this list.
What Kind of Data Is Being Collected?
The data points collected by these chatbots encompass a wide range of personal information:(LinkedIn)
- Personal Identifiers: Name, email address, phone number
- Location Data: Geographical information based on IP address or GPS
- User Content: Conversations, queries, and shared documents
- Usage Patterns: Interaction frequency, time spent, and feature usage
- Device Information: Device type, operating system, and browser details
Notably, some chatbots, like Gemini and Perplexity, also track user purchases and browsing history, raising further privacy concerns.
Why This Matters
The more data a chatbot collects, the better it can personalize your experience. But that also means more of your private info is being stored somewhere—and possibly used in ways you did not expect.
That could mean:
- More targeted ads
- Your data being used to train AI models
- Greater risk if there is a data breach
So if you care about privacy, you might want to pick a chatbot that keeps data collection to a minimum—or at least one that gives you control over what is shared.
What Can You Do?
If you are not comfortable handing over a bunch of data:
- Choose more private chatbots, like Grok, that collect less
- Check the privacy settings of the chatbot you use—many let you limit what they track
- Read the fine print (yes, it is boring, but it helps) to know how your data is used
Think before you share—avoid typing sensitive info into a chatbot unless you know how it is handled
Bottom Line
AI chatbots can be super helpful—but they do not come free. You are often paying with your personal data. By understanding how much information each chatbot collects, you can make smarter choices about which ones you trust.
After all, it is your data. You should decide who gets to see it.
