FAQs about Dropbox AI and your privacy

This article answers frequently asked questions about privacy and Dropbox AI. 

How does Dropbox work with AI?

Some Dropbox features use a combination of machine learning and artificial intelligence to generate useful and accurate content. Here’s a basic explanation of these different technologies:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a wide-ranging branch of computer science concerned with building machines capable of performing tasks that typically require human intelligence.
  
  
• Generative AI models (GenAI) are algorithms that use machine learning techniques to produce new content, such as text or images, based on patterns learned from existing data.
  
  
• Large language models (LLMs) are algorithms which utilize large datasets to summarize, recognize, predict, and translate content.
  
  
• Machine Learning (ML) aims to teach a machine how to perform a specific task and provide accurate results by identifying patterns.
   

Some of our AI features utilize software from third-party partners that requires sending data through outside LLMs and generative AI models to generate responses. 
 

What information is shared with third-party partners?

Your files and files you have access to within Dropbox are only sent to a vetted third-party partner when you choose to interact with AI-powered features, which are clearly labeled with “Will use third-party AI." For example, when you ask a question about a file. 
 

We only use third-party technology partners we have vetted. Their software will perform tasks with your information on our behalf, but we remain responsible for the handling of that information. Your data is never used to train their internal models, and is deleted from third-party servers within 30 days.
 

Learn more about Dropbox’s commitment to your privacy when sharing your data in our full Privacy Policy.

Is my data automatically being shared with third-party AI partners?

No. Your data is never passively or automatically shared with any third-party generative AI partners. Only when you engage with features labeled with “Will use third-party AI”, will the data relevant to your explicit request or command be sent to vetted third-party generative AI partners. Their software will perform tasks with your information on our behalf, but we remain responsible for the handling of that information. Your data is never used to train their internal models, and is deleted from third-party servers within 30 days.

When is my content shared with third-party AI partners?

Only when you engage with features with the “Will use third-party AI” banner will the relevant data to your explicit request or command be sent to third-party generative AI partners. Your data is never passively shared with any third-party generative AI partners.

What is the Third-party AI toggle?

For eligible accounts, the Third-party AI toggle can be found in the Third-party AI features tab in your account settings. The toggle allows you to manage access to the Dropbox AI features which utilize third-party generative AI to generate responses to your questions and commands. 

• The Third-party AI toggle is turned on to give all eligible customers the opportunity to view and use our new AI features and functionality. 
  • All third-party generative AI-powered tools are labeled with “Will use third-party AI” to allow you to make an informed decision about engaging with these features.
• Even with the Third-party AI toggle turned on, your content is only sent to our third-party generative AI partner when you engage with our third-party AI-powered features. Your content is only used to generate the answer, summary, or transcript for that question or command.
  • Any data shared with our third-party AI partners is not used to train their models and is deleted from their servers within 30 days.
• If the Third-party AI toggle is turned off, you won’t see any Dropbox AI features.
  • The bullet points above apply if you choose to turn the toggle back to On and use any Dropbox AI features.
• If you don’t see the Third-party AI features tab in your account settings, you’re not currently eligible for the Dropbox AI alpha.

Learn more about Dropbox’s Privacy Policy.

How is my data protected with Dropbox AI?

We acknowledge the responsibility of securing data privacy when utilizing AI tools. To that end, we established AI principles to guide our actions. They include transparency in how we use AI, not using AI as a means to sell data, and hearing and learning from your feedback.

Read our full commitment to customers when using AI.

Who are Dropbox’s third-party partners for AI?

We only use partners whose privacy policies and commitment to our customer’s rights and safety align with our own. 

At this time, we’re partnered with one third-party AI partner, OpenAI. Open AI is an artificial intelligence research organization that develops cutting-edge language models and advanced AI technologies. OpenAI won’t train its language models using Dropbox customer data or the questions Dropbox customers ask. Your data is deleted from OpenAI’s servers within 30 days. Read OpenAI’s full privacy policy.

Who has access to the Third-party AI features tab in their account settings?

The Third-party AI features tab is only visible to customers who have access to our AI features. 
 

If you don’t see the Third-party AI features tab, then you can’t view or use Dropbox AI features. Neither this nor any other setting automatically or passively sends any Dropbox customer data to a third-party generative AI service.

How can I manage the use of third-party AI in my Dropbox account?

You can control what third-party generative AI-powered features you have access to from the Settings page in your Dropbox account by toggling third-party AI-powered features on or off at any point. Learn how to manage your third-party settings.

Use of third-party generative AI on team accounts is managed by the team admin. 
 

The Third-party AI toggle is only visible to select customers and team accounts eligible to use Dropbox AI features. If you don’t see the Third-party AI toggle, then you can’t view or use Dropbox AI features at this time.