Does Character AI use your chats to train the AI?
Yes, by default. Character.AI can use your conversations to help train and improve its AI models. As of 2026-07 you can opt out in your model-training settings, after which new content won't train the generative models, though your data may still be used for safety classifiers, search, and recommendations.
Why — the first-principles explanation
AI models get better the same way people do: by learning from examples. Real conversations show the model how humans actually phrase things, follow a plot, or react, so companies like Character.AI use chat data as raw material to refine future versions. That's why the default is 'on': more data usually means a smarter, more natural model.
But 'training' isn't one thing. There's generative-model training (teaching the AI how to write its replies) and there are other uses like safety classifiers, search, and recommendations. Character.AI ties these to a control: when you opt out of model training, new content stops feeding the generative models, but the company may still use data to keep the service safe and functional. So opting out reduces, but doesn't fully eliminate, how your chats are used.
This is where privacy meets practicality. Your chats aren't sold, Character.AI states it doesn't sell personal information, but they are a resource the company draws on unless you say otherwise. The sensible move is to decide deliberately: if you're uncomfortable, flip off model training in settings; either way, don't put passwords, financial details, or true secrets into a chat, because anything you type could be stored and processed. The control is yours, but the default leans toward using your data.
An example that makes it click
Imagine a cooking school that saves photos of every dish students make, then studies them to teach future classes better recipes. It helps the school improve, but maybe you'd rather your plate not end up in the textbook. So they add an opt-out checkbox. Even if you check it, they might still glance at your dish to make sure nothing unsafe was served. That's how Character.AI uses, and lets you limit, your chats.
How to do it
- Open Character.AI and go to Settings, then find model-training or data-controls.
- Toggle off the option that lets your new content train the generative AI models.
- Understand that opting out doesn't stop all data use; safety, search, and recommendations may continue.
- Delete individual chats or your account if you want to remove stored conversations entirely.
- Keep passwords, financial details, and secrets out of chats regardless of your training setting.
Key facts
- By default, Character.AI can use conversation data to train and improve its AI models.
- Users can opt out of model training in settings so new content isn't used for generative-model training.
- Even after opting out, data may still be used for safety classifiers, search, and recommendations.
- Character.AI states it does not sell personal information.
- Deleting chats or your account removes stored conversations from your history.
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Does Character.AI use your chats to train the AI? Yes, by default it can. Real conversations are gold for improving an AI model, they show it how people actually talk, so Character.AI uses chat data to make future versions better. But here's the important part: you have a control. As of July 2026, you can go into settings and opt out of model training. Once you do, your new chats won't be used to train the generative models. One caveat, though: opting out doesn't stop everything. The company may still use data for safety systems, search, and recommendations. On the plus side, Character.AI says it doesn't sell your personal information. So the smart move is to decide on purpose: if it bothers you, switch off model training. And either way, never type passwords, bank details, or real secrets into a chat.
What authoritative sources say
People also ask
How do I stop my chats from training the AI?
Go to Settings and turn off model training. New conversations will no longer be used to train the generative models.
Does opting out remove my chats from past training?
Opting out affects new content going forward. To remove stored conversations, delete individual chats or your account.
Does Character.AI sell my conversations?
Character.AI states it does not sell personal information, but by default it may use your chats to improve its own models.
If I opt out, is my data fully unused?
No. New content won't train generative models, but data may still support safety classifiers, search, and recommendations.