Geminy AI. GenAI Platforms Gateaway

By Eve White, Developer, AI Reporter, and CISO at a Leading U.S. Corporation

I love AI. I hate AI. I care about Privacy.

It’s brilliant, revolutionary, and reshaping industries at lightning speed. But it’s also a privacy minefield, and as a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), I see the hidden dangers that most people don’t.

The biggest culprit? Cookies.

Yes, those tiny, innocent-looking files that track your every move online. They remember what you search for, what you click on, and sometimes, even what you say. They are the silent spies of the internet, and when combined with AI and GenAI tools, they become a privacy nightmare waiting to happen.

If you’re a developer, an AI user, or someone who simply values privacy, it’s time to wake up to what’s happening behind the scenes. Because AI isn’t just getting smarter—it’s learning more about you than you ever agreed to.

How AI Uses Cookies—And Why It Matters

Cookies aren’t all bad. In fact, they make AI tools smarter, faster, and more personalized.

For AI and Generative AI (GenAI) platforms, cookies help with:

✅ Keeping AI Conversations Flowing

Ever noticed how ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini remembers what you said five minutes ago? That’s because of cookies. They store temporary data to make AI interactions feel seamless and intelligent.

✅ Personalization—Or Creepy Customization?

AI platforms use cookies to learn your habits. The more you interact, the more it adapts to your preferences. Sounds great, right? Until you realize that some AI tools track you across websites, linking your behavior to a profile you never consented to create.

✅ AI-Driven Tracking & Advertising Manipulation

Here’s where it gets dark. Many AI-driven platforms work with third-party ad networks—and those networks use cookies to track you everywhere.

• You asked ChatGPT about a new laptop?

• Now, suddenly, you’re seeing laptop ads on every website you visit.

Coincidence? No. It’s AI funneling your data into an ecosystem of advertisers, trackers, and data brokers.

And you never explicitly agreed to it.

The Dark Side: AI, Cookies & Privacy Invasion

As a CISO, I fight against privacy violations every day. And when it comes to AI and cookies, I see disaster written all over it.

Here’s why:

⚠️ 1. AI is Watching—Even When You Think It’s Not

Most people assume that once they close a chatbot or stop using an AI tool, the tracking stops.

That’s not always true. Some AI-powered platforms keep collecting data in the background, storing it in cookies, and reconnecting it later when you come back.

And the worst part? You’ll never know how much it remembers.

⚠️ 2. Privacy Laws Are Being Ignored

We have laws like GDPR (Europe) and CCPA (California) designed to protect user data. But AI-powered tools often bend these rules by burying cookie tracking inside complex, unreadable privacy policies.

• GDPR requires clear consent before tracking

• CCPA demands that users can opt out of data collection

But are AI tools really giving you that choice? Or are they making it so complicated that most people give up and accept tracking anyway?

⚠️ 3. AI Learning From You Without Permission

Imagine if an AI could read your mind. Sounds cool—until you realize it’s happening without your consent.

Some AI tools store cookies that feed back into machine learning models, meaning:

• AI can remember past interactions even when you start fresh.

• It can train itself using your conversations, preferences, and browsing habits.

• Your private questions or concerns might indirectly shape how AI responds to others in the future.

And that’s terrifying.

⚠️ 4. Cookies Can Be Stolen & Used Against You

Let’s talk about security.

Cookies are small, fragile, and easily hacked. If a cybercriminal steals an AI session cookie, they might:

• Hijack your chatbot sessions

• Access sensitive conversations

• Manipulate responses to phish or deceive you

AI cookies, if not properly encrypted and secured, become a goldmine for hackers looking to exploit your personal data.

The Urgent Fix: What Developers & AI Users Must Do

AI doesn’t have to be a privacy disaster—but we need to act fast.

🔹 For AI Developers: Build AI That Respects Privacy

• Stop relying on third-party cookies. They’re invasive, and users don’t trust them.

• Give people control. Let them opt out of tracking easily—not after a 20-click process buried in settings.

• Limit cookie storage. If you don’t need the data, don’t store it.

• Encrypt everything. AI session cookies must be securely encrypted to prevent hijacking and misuse.

🔹 For AI Users: Protect Yourself from AI Tracking

• Block third-party cookies in your browser settings.

• Use privacy-focused AI alternatives that don’t rely on aggressive tracking.

• Manually clear AI-related cookies after using GenAI tools to wipe stored data.

• Read privacy policies. If an AI tool isn’t clear about its cookie use, assume the worst.

The Future: AI Without Cookies?

AI is evolving. And with Google, Apple, and Mozilla killing third-party cookies, AI must adapt.

The future could be:

• AI models running directly on your device (no cloud tracking required)

• Privacy-first AI that only remembers context within a single session

• Decentralized AI that never stores user data in a central database

These changes are coming, but not fast enough.

Final Thoughts: AI Must Earn Our Trust

I want to love AI without fear. But right now, AI developers need to do better.

🔹 If you’re an AI developer, build with privacy in mind, not as an afterthought.

🔹 If you’re an AI user, stay vigilant—don’t trust that AI will protect your data unless you make sure it does.

AI isn’t evil. But unchecked AI tracking is.

And if we don’t fight for privacy-first AI now, we may wake up in a world where we’re not just using AI—we’re being used by it.

What are your thoughts on AI tracking and cookies? Have you ever felt like AI knows too much about you? Let’s talk—because this is a fight we can’t afford to lose.