Microsoft vs OpenAI (ChatGPT)
Based on our analysis, Microsoft is the more privacy-respecting choice overall.
BACK →| Category | Microsoft | OpenAI (ChatGPT) |
|---|---|---|
| Overall | C- · 44/100 | D · 42/100 |
| What they collect | Concern (35) | Concern (38) |
| Who they share it with | Concern (40) | Mixed (48) |
| What you can do | Mixed (58) | Concern (42) |
| What they promise | Mixed (52) | Mixed (52) |
Microsoft's privacy statement covers an enormous product surface — Windows, Office, Azure, Bing, Xbox, and Copilot — and the data practices vary dramatically across them. The umbrella policy is deliberately vague, deferring almost all specifics to product-level documentation. Cross-product data combination, AI model training on your content, and employer/school access to your files and communications are the key risks most consumers don't realise they're accepting.
View full analysis →OpenAI collects account data, all prompts and responses, file uploads, voice inputs, and a separate Memory that persists even when you delete chats. Training on your conversations is on by default; you must opt out. A federal court order (May 2025) requires OpenAI to preserve and segregate ChatGPT conversation data — including deleted conversations. API and Enterprise: training is off; your data is never used for training. OpenAI states they don't sell personal data or use it for targeted advertising.
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