Before you ask ChatGPT: Responsible AI use at Purdue

Artificial intelligence tools are becoming a common part of academic and workplace productivity, helping users analyze data, summarize information and accelerate writing tasks. While these tools can offer significant benefits, their growing use also raises important questions about data privacy and security.

Before entering information into a public AI platform, Purdue faculty, staff and students should consider a critical question: What happens to that data once it is submitted?

Some things shouldn't leave your laptop

Unpublished research findings, student records, and other sensitive university data don't belong in public AI tools not because AI is inherently unsafe, but because once that information leaves your device and enters a third-party system, you generally lose visibility and control over where it's stored, who can access it, and whether it's used to train future models. A single pasted paragraph can be enough to create real exposure, especially for research that hasn't been published yet or student data protected under FERPA.

The rise of “Shadow AI”

“Shadow AI” is a growing habit of using AI tools that haven't been reviewed or approved by the university, often because they're fast, free, and one browser tab away. This is quietly becoming one of the more common ways sensitive data ends up somewhere it shouldn't. It's rarely malicious; it's usually just convenient. But convenience and risk tend to travel together, which is exactly why a quick check before adopting a new tool matters.

Ask first: Is this tool university-approved, and what happens to the data I share with it?

A simple habit to build

Before adopting a new AI tool for research, coursework, or day-to-day work, get in the habit of asking two questions: is this tool approved for use with university data, and what does its privacy policy actually say about how submitted information is stored and used? If you're not sure, ask before you paste — not after. This isn't about slowing down innovation; it's about making sure Purdue's next big idea doesn't leak out through an unreviewed chat window.

Dig deeper this week: Register to attend the Oct. 21 BTAA session “Leading Secure AI Adoption in Higher Education,” and review the Artificial Intelligence Policy for additional guidance.