In 60 seconds
- AI is part of everyday life, work and attacks. If you understand it, you can use it safely.
- The biggest risks: data leakage, hallucinations, prompt injection and deepfakes.
- Rule of thumb: nothing confidential in free tools, check every result, responsibility stays with the human.
Legal status: 5 November 2026
Why AI affects everyone.#
Even people who never consciously start it use it every day.
In everyday life
Search engines, navigation, translators, spam filters, photo apps and voice assistants work with AI. Most of the time you do not notice.
At work
Drafting texts, writing code, summarising meetings, analysing data, advising customers: assistants are built into office programs and specialist software.
Among attackers too
Deceptively real phishing emails, cloned voices and automated attacks lower the barrier to fraud.
In law
The EU, Germany and US states now regulate AI. Whoever uses it bears responsibility.
AI in plain words.#
From the umbrella term to the agent.
| Term | What it is | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Artificial intelligence | Umbrella term for systems that solve tasks that would otherwise require human intelligence | Spam filters, route planning, image recognition |
| Machine learning | AI that learns patterns from example data instead of being given every rule | Fraud detection for card payments |
| Generative AI | AI that creates new content: text, images, audio, video, code | Chatbots, image generators, voice clones |
| Language model (LLM) | Generative AI for text. It calculates which word is likely to fit next | ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot |
| AI agent | A language model with tools that plans and carries out tasks itself | An assistant that sorts emails and books appointments |
What AI does well
- Summarising, rephrasing and translating texts
- Collecting ideas and creating drafts
- Recognising patterns in large amounts of data
- Speeding up routine tasks, such as code scaffolding or spreadsheet formulas
Where it fails
- Hallucinations: It invents facts, quotes and sources that sound plausible.
- Outdated knowledge: Models only know their training data unless they are allowed to search.
- Bias: Biased training data leads to biased results.
- No understanding: It calculates probabilities and does not check for truth.
8 risks everyone should know.#
Data leakage
Input may be stored by the provider or used for training. Confidential information does not belong in free tools.
Hallucinations
Wrong answers sound convincing. Without checking, bad decisions follow.
Prompt injection
Hidden instructions in emails, websites or documents can manipulate AI assistants.
Deepfakes and fraud
Fake voices, images and videos are used for fraud, extortion and disinformation.
Bias
Systems can disadvantage groups, for example in job applications or loans.
Copyright
Training data and generated content raise legal questions. Purely AI-generated works are usually not protected.
Shadow AI
Employees use private accounts because there is no approved solution. The company loses control.
Dependency
If you never question results, you forget how to judge them. The human remains responsible.
10 rules for safe use.#
- Nothing confidential in free tools. Trade secrets, personal data and credentials stay out.
- Use approved tools. Business versions with a contract are safer than private accounts.
- Check every result. Verify facts, numbers, quotes and sources yourself.
- Responsibility stays with the human. The AI suggests, you decide and are liable.
- Know your settings. Deliberately set training on your input, history and permissions.
- Be suspicious under pressure. Always confirm urgent requests for money or data by voice or video via a second channel.
- Label where necessary. Deepfakes and AI texts on matters of public interest can trigger mandatory labelling.
- Do not let external texts be executed blindly. Agents may only do what they must, and the human confirms risky actions.
- Learn and train. Anyone who uses AI needs basic knowledge. For companies, this is mandatory (Art. 4 AI Act).
- Document the rules. Which AI is allowed for what belongs in a short, understandable policy.
Data traffic light: what may go into an AI tool?#
Choose a type of data and see how careful you need to be.
Guidance for everyday use. Your company's rules and the contract with the provider always apply.
AI check: are you using AI safely?#
6 questions, answered honestly.
Rough guidance for everyday life. Your selection stays in your browser.
Go deeper.#
6 pages, one topic.
AI security
Attacks on and with AI, the OWASP list and effective protection.
View AI securityAI agents
When AI acts on its own: opportunities, risks and guardrails.
View AI agentsAI in business
Governance, policy, vendor assessment and 90-day plan.
View AI in businessAI in everyday life
Use it safely in private, recognise fraud, guide children.
View AI in everyday lifeWhat should I cover next?#
Your topic request helps decide.
Frequently asked questions.#
Should I ban AI in my company?
Blanket bans usually lead to shadow AI: employees then use private accounts and nobody is in control. Approved tools, clear rules and training work better.
Does the AI learn from my input?
That depends on the provider, the plan and your settings. Many free services analyse input, business plans usually do not. Check the contract and account settings.
Is AI-generated text protected by copyright?
In Germany, copyright protects personal intellectual creations by humans. Purely AI-generated content is therefore usually not protected. Results may also infringe the rights of others.
Do I have to label AI content?
In certain cases, yes, for example deepfakes and AI texts on matters of public interest (Art. 50 AI Act). Details are on the AI regulation page.
Who is liable if the AI makes mistakes?
As a rule, whoever uses the system is responsible. In addition, new product liability rules covering software and AI apply in the EU from the end of 2026. Details under regulation.
Questions about AI?
Which AI question is still open for you? Write to me, and we will add it to this page.
Sources and further reading
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Suggested citation: Russo, K.: "Artificial intelligence". sicherheitsdenker.de/en/ki/, as of 6 November 2026.