WHITESIDE FORUM · OCTOBER 25, 2026

AI Made Simple

Everyday uses—and five tips to stay safe online.

Session resources with Ben Sondgeroth · Exploring EdTech
Odell Public Library · Morrison, Illinois

Thank you for joining the conversation. Use this page to revisit the main ideas, try an AI conversation, and take a few practical steps to protect yourself online.

The idea to remember

AI can help you plan, learn, and explore options. It can also give confident answers that are incomplete or wrong. Add context, ask follow-up questions, and check important details before you act.

Use AI to support your judgment. Keep yourself in charge of the decision.

Protect your data when using a chatbot

Share only what the chatbot needs. Use made-up names or remove identifying details. Leave out passwords, verification codes, account numbers, private student or customer information, and confidential workplace documents. Follow your school or organization’s rules.

ChatGPT: turn off model training

On the website, while signed in:

1. Open your account or profile menu.
2. Choose Settings, then Data controls.
3. Open Improve the model for everyone, switch it off, and select Done.

On iPhone or Android: Open the sidebar, tap your profile icon to open Settings, choose Data controls, and turn Improve the model for everyone off. This choice applies across web and mobile when signed into the same account.

What this means: New chats won’t be used for model training. Saved chats remain in history. This is a training preference, not a public-sharing control or a promise of complete confidentiality. Voice has a separate training control; memory is separate too. If you submit thumbs-up or thumbs-down feedback, the associated conversation may still be used for training.

Another option: Temporary Chat stays out of history and isn’t used for training while temporary; copies may be kept for up to 30 days for safety.

Settings vary by account and workspace. See OpenAI’s current Data controls instructions. Checked October 25, 2026.

Using another chatbot? Review that service’s privacy and training settings separately. Don’t assume a ChatGPT setting applies to other tools.

Three conversations to try

Start with a low-stakes question. Give context, say what you want, and request a useful format. Then continue the conversation.

1. Plan a day trip

“Help me plan a day trip to Galena, Illinois. We enjoy history and local food and prefer limited walking. Our budget is $400. Organize a suggested itinerary and list the prices, opening hours, and accessibility details I should verify.”

2. Make an unfamiliar topic clearer

“Explain cloud storage using an everyday analogy. Help me understand the difference between syncing files and making a backup. Ask me one question at a time about what I need before suggesting options.”

3. Think through a suspicious message

“A message says my bank account has unusual activity and asks me to click a link immediately. What warning signs should I look for, and how can I verify it safely without using the link or phone number in the message?”

Keep private information out of the prompt. Describe the situation without passwords, login codes, account numbers, or other sensitive details. Verify independently through an official app, a website you already know, or a trusted phone number.

Ben’s five tips to stay safe online

1. Use long, unique passwords

Use a different password for each account. A password manager can help you create and remember them. Start by protecting the email account you use to recover other accounts.

2. Turn on two-factor authentication

Enable an additional sign-in check where available. Never give a login code to someone who calls or messages you, even if they claim to be helping.

3. Phishing—don’t get caught!

Phishing messages pretend to come from someone you trust to get you to click a link, share information, or send money. A polished message or familiar voice is not proof of identity.

• Check the sender’s email address. Look at the full address, not just the display name. An unfamiliar or look-alike address is a reason to pause.
• Watch for urgency or threats. Be cautious when a message pressures you to act immediately, keep a secret, or send money.
• Think before you click. Verify through an official app, a website you already know, or a trusted phone number instead of using a link or contact details in the message.

Example from the session: “Hi Grandma, it’s me. My phone broke. Send $300 right away—and don’t call Mom and Dad.”

Spot the warning signs: pressure, secrecy, a new number, and money. Call the person using a number you already know to verify the request before acting.

4. Keep devices and apps updated

Turn on automatic updates where practical. Update through your device settings or an official app store, rather than a link in an unexpected message.

5. Slow down. Verify. Protect.

Take a breath before clicking, paying, or sharing information. Verify through a separate, trusted contact method. Only act after you have checked the request.

For more guidance: FBI: Stay Safe Online—Simple Tips for Adults.

Trusted places to learn more or get help

FTC: Recognize impersonator scams
Learn about requests that pretend to come from someone you trust.

ReportFraud.ftc.gov
Report scams, fraud, and bad business practices to the Federal Trade Commission.

USAGov: Imposter scams
Find additional government guidance on recognizing and reporting impersonation.

Open these resources directly. You do not need to send Ben passwords, verification codes, or account information to ask a follow-up question.

Three things to do when you get home

Try one AI conversation. Choose a low-stakes task and practice asking follow-up questions.

Secure your primary email. Review its password and two-factor authentication settings.

Share one safety tip. Help a friend or family member pause and verify an unexpected request.

Keep the conversation going

Have a question from the session, or want to explore learning opportunities for your group? I’d be glad to connect.

Browse all session resources