Choosing an AI tool safely

Most AI tools ask for something valuable: your writing, your files, your customer data, your voice or a card on file. A few minutes of checking before you sign up can save a lot of trouble later. This is general advice, not legal advice.

Know what happens to your data

• Read the maker's privacy policy and terms. Look for whether your inputs and outputs can be used to train their models, and whether you can opt out.
• Check how long your data is kept, and whether you can delete it.
• Find out where data is stored and which other companies process it, especially if you handle client, health or financial information.
• Do not paste passwords, financial details, other people's personal information or confidential work into any tool until you are comfortable with its terms. For work data, check your employer's policy first.

Check who owns the output

If you plan to use results commercially, read what the terms say about ownership and permitted uses of generated text, images, audio, video and code. Terms can differ between free and paid plans, so check the plan you will actually use.

Free trials and subscriptions

• Note whether a trial needs a card, and when it turns into a paid plan.
• Set a reminder a few days before the trial ends.
• Check whether pricing is per month, per year, per seat or based on usage, such as credits. Usage-based costs can grow quickly.
• Look for usage limits on lower plans. A cheap plan with tight limits may not cover real work.

Know how to cancel

• Find the cancel option before you subscribe, not after.
• Read the refund policy. Annual plans may not be refundable.
• Export anything you want to keep before your access ends.
• Keep the cancellation confirmation, and check your next statement.
• If you cannot cancel or are charged after canceling, contact the maker first, then your card issuer.

Red flags

• Promises of guaranteed income or results.
• No company name, no contact details and no privacy policy.
• Payment by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency only.
• A browser extension or app that asks for far more access than its job needs.
• A web address that imitates a well-known product with a small misspelling.

Use the community

Read reviews on the tool's page, check its alternatives and comparison pages, and ask in Help & Questions if something looks off. A Verified badge confirms who runs a product, not that it is safe. AI Launch Zone is not the seller, so billing, refunds and data handling are between you and the maker.