Essential Do's and Don'ts for Using AI Chatbots Safely and Effectively
Key Points
- Use chatbots for brainstorming, proofreading, learning, coding, and games.
- Never submit AI‑generated answers for school or university assignments.
- Verify all factual information; AI can hallucinate or fabricate data.
- Do not share payment or credit‑card details inside a chatbot conversation.
- Avoid using chatbots for medical diagnosis or treatment advice.
- Children under 13 should not use chatbots alone; older minors need parental consent.
- Treat AI output as a helpful suggestion, not an authoritative answer.
A concise guide outlines best practices for leveraging AI chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude. It highlights productive uses such as brainstorming, proofreading, learning, coding, and entertainment, while warning against cheating, blind trust, sharing personal payment details, and seeking medical advice. The advice stresses adult supervision for younger users and the importance of verifying AI‑generated information.
Productive Ways to Use AI Chatbots
AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude excel as brainstorming partners, helping users generate ideas, outline pros and cons, and create content. They serve as effective proofreading tools, offering polished revisions and stylistic suggestions for short and long texts. When used as personal tutors, these models can teach a wide range of subjects, answer questions, and even design structured learning programs. Developers benefit from the models' coding capabilities, allowing them to write or complete code snippets, build simple games, or prototype applications. Additionally, chatbots provide enjoyable recreational experiences, from classic board games like chess and tic‑tac‑toe to interactive text‑based adventures.
Risks and Practices to Avoid
Despite their versatility, chatbots should not be used for academic cheating; submitting AI‑generated answers is considered dishonest and can lead to serious consequences. Users must also avoid accepting information without verification, as chatbots can produce "hallucinations"—fabricated facts, studies, or legal references. Sharing payment or credit‑card details within a chatbot conversation is discouraged, as reputable services never request such information in‑chat. Relying on AI for medical diagnoses or treatment advice is unsafe; professional medical consultation remains essential. Finally, children under 13 should not use chatbots independently, and users aged 13 to 18 need parental consent and supervision.
Key Safety Recommendations
Adults should monitor younger users' interactions with AI, ensuring that any usage aligns with age‑appropriate guidelines. When using AI for sensitive topics, double‑check facts against reliable sources, especially when the model provides specific data points—such as the reported 1.4% hallucination rate for the latest OpenAI model. Treat chatbots as supportive tools rather than ultimate authorities, and always supplement AI‑generated content with human judgment and expert review.
Overall Guidance
The overarching message is to harness the creative and productive power of AI chatbots while maintaining vigilance against misuse, misinformation, and privacy breaches. By following the outlined do's and don'ts, users can enjoy the benefits of AI assistance in work, education, development, and entertainment without compromising integrity or safety.