Using AI tools with your files: read this first
AI makes mistakes, and you stay responsible.
AI assistants like Claude can be wrong, sound sure when they’re wrong, and misread your files. Check what they give you before you rely on it, pay for it, send it or act on it. What you do with an AI’s output is your call, and your responsibility.
Give it a folder of copies, never your originals.
You choose what Claude can see. Make a new folder, copy in only the files the job needs, and point the AI at that folder, or just upload the copies to a chat. Keep your originals somewhere it can’t reach, and back them up. That way, if something goes wrong, all you’ve lost is copies.
Connectors can see more than you think.
When you connect an AI to your email or a cloud drive (Gmail, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive and the like), it can usually reach the whole mailbox or drive, not just one folder. You can ask it to look only at one label or folder, but that’s an instruction, not a lock. Turn a connector on only when you need it, name the exact label or folder when you ask, and turn it off when you’re done. Better still, use a folder of copies.
The kits and free prompts here make new files and leave yours alone.
They’re written to read only your folder of copies (or files you upload) and to save results as new files with new names. They never edit, move, rename or delete files you already had. The only files a kit ever updates are ones it made itself, and it saves a dated copy first. Read each prompt before you run it, because the AI follows what you tell it, including anything you add.
As is, no warranty, not advice.
Everything here comes as is, with no warranty of any kind, and you use it at your own risk. There’s no promise of any particular result, or that it’ll be error-free or work on your setup.
No warranties, express or implied, including merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, accuracy and non-infringement.
It’s general information and tools, not legal, benefits, financial, tax, medical, mechanical or any other professional advice. For decisions that matter, ask a qualified professional.
Limits on liability.
As far as the law allows, I’m not liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential or punitive damages. That includes lost or corrupted data, lost profits, downtime, or the cost of replacing anything, even if someone told me it might happen. Some places don’t allow these limits; there, they apply only as far as the law allows.
Not affiliated with any AI company.
DOS to AI is my independent site (Ian Willis). It isn’t affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by Anthropic or any other AI company. “Claude” is Anthropic’s trademark, used only to say which tool these guides work with. Other names belong to their owners.
Florida law applies.
Florida law governs this.