Which AI Chatbots Are Spying on You the Most?

As artificial intelligence becomes a bigger part of everyday life, a growing concern is quietly building in the background, how much of your personal data are AI chatbots actually collecting? 

While these tools are helping people write emails, answer questions, or even draft essays, they’re also gathering valuable information about you with every interaction.

A recent analysis of several leading AI chatbots reveals major differences in their data collection habits. The findings, based on privacy disclosures from the Apple App Store, show that some AI tools take in far more data than others ranging from basic usage stats to more sensitive details like your contact list or location history.

Here are the top chatbots and just how much data they’re scooping up from users.

Gemini -Data points collected: 22

Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, leads the pack when it comes to data collection. It pulls in an extensive list of personal information, including your contacts, search and chat history, location, user content, and even purchase history. 

In fact, Gemini is the only chatbot in this group that accesses your contact list, a move that raises serious questions about boundaries and user privacy. If you’re someone who values minimal data exposure, this might be one to use with caution.

Claude – Data points collected: 13

Claude, developed by Anthropic, takes a more measured approach, but still gathers a fair amount. It collects your location, user content, and diagnostic data, but it avoids digging into your purchases or contacts. While it’s less invasive than Gemini, it’s still not exactly lightweight when it comes to data.

Copilot – Data points collected: 12

Microsoft’s Copilot focuses heavily on contextual understanding, which is why it collects data such as your chat history, usage patterns, and location. This allows it to tailor responses more accurately but it also means Microsoft is keeping close tabs on how you interact with its tool.

DeepSeek – Data points collected: 11

DeepSeek doesn’t go overboard with data collection, but it still gathers contact information and content shared by users. It doesn’t track your location or purchases, making it slightly more restrained than Copilot or Claude.

ChatGPT – Data points collected: 10

Despite its massive global user base, OpenAI’s ChatGPT has a relatively modest data appetite. It doesn’t track your location, your purchases, or your contacts. Instead, it sticks to essentials like user content and diagnostics. If you’re using AI frequently and want a tool that avoids overreaching, ChatGPT strikes a reasonable balance.

Perplexity – Data points collected: 10

Perplexity takes a different angle by focusing on behavioral insights. It monitors location, diagnostics, and even purchase data but it avoids collecting user-generated content or contact details. That makes it more interested in how you use the app, rather than what you say to it.

Grok – Data points collected: 7

Grok, created by xAI, is the most minimalistic in its data gathering. It collects only the essentials—contact info, some identifiers, and diagnostics. If you’re looking for a chatbot that doesn’t pry too much, Grok is your best bet for privacy-conscious users.

Why is this important?The difference in data collection across chatbots isn’t just about numbers, it’s about trust, transparency, and control. Most users aren’t fully aware of how much information they’re sharing just by using these tools. 

Some of it is necessary to improve performance, but without clearer regulation or consent options, users are left in the dark about how their data is being used, stored, or even sold.

Privacy experts are calling for more transparency and stricter controls, especially as AI becomes more embedded in our personal and professional lives. Until then, the best defense is knowledge, know what you’re signing up for before you type that next prompt.