Glossary
Data retention
Data retention is how long an AI provider keeps your conversations on its servers, including after you delete them. Deleting a chat hides it from you immediately, but providers typically hold a copy for a while before it is fully removed.
When you delete a chat, it vanishes from your screen, but not instantly from the company’s servers. Data retention is the rule that says how long a copy sticks around. Many providers state they remove deleted conversations from their systems within roughly 30 days, with possible exceptions for safety reviews or legal obligations. The exact terms differ by provider and by plan, so the privacy policy is the place to check.
Why it matters: a bar owner who pasted a client’s contract into a chatbot and then deleted the chat hasn’t erased it on the spot. For a few weeks that text can still exist somewhere, and it could be covered by a legal hold or surface in a data breach.
The practical takeaway is calm and simple: deletion works, just not instantly, so the best protection is being a little choosy about what you paste in the first place. Our paste checker tells you how each chatbot handles what you type.
Where you’ll meet this
- ChatGPT → Settings → Data Controls → delete chats; details in OpenAI’s privacy policy
- Claude → Settings → Privacy; retention terms in Anthropic’s privacy policy
- Gemini → Gemini Apps Activity, where you set auto-delete periods
Related terms
Put it to work
- Free Skuto Paste Checker Check before you paste: pick what you're about to share and which AI you use, and see in seconds if it's safe — with the vendor's actual terms and a safer alternative.
- Free Get More From AI Already using AI but feel you're scratching the surface? Answer a few questions and get a personal plan to level up: the right assistant for what you do, the plan that's actually worth it, and the settings and prompts that unlock more.