Privacy in the Age of AI: What Tech Experts Recommend Buying

Intro

If you’ve felt a creeping unease about how often your phone seems to listen, or how eerily accurate the ads are after a casual conversation, you’re not alone. AI-powered tools are now woven into everything from photo management to customer service, and with that convenience comes a steady erosion of privacy.

A recent article from VICE, “AI Is Getting Creepy—Here’s What Tech Experts Are Buying to Stay Private,” captures this anxiety and offers a practical counter: a curated list of hardware, software, and habits that privacy professionals themselves use. The piece is worth reading for anyone who wants to move beyond vague worry and take concrete steps.

What Happened

The VICE article (published April 29, 2026) highlights a growing recognition among technologists and privacy advocates that AI-driven surveillance and data collection are becoming harder to avoid. Rather than merely documenting the problem, the article gathers specific purchasing recommendations from experts. While the full text isn’t available here, the report’s angle is clear: experts are investing in tools that limit the amount of personal data AI systems can harvest.

These recommendations fall into three broad buckets: physical hardware, software for encrypted communication, and behavioral changes that reduce your digital footprint.

Why It Matters

AI systems improve by ingesting vast amounts of data. Much of that data comes from everyday devices—smartphones, laptops, smart speakers—that are always listening, watching, or tracking. Even if you’re not doing anything wrong, the aggregation of location history, browsing habits, voice recordings, and facial images creates a detailed profile that can be used in ways you never agreed to.

The creepiness factor is real: studies show that many consumers feel powerless to stop it. But the VICE article counters that feeling by showing that experts don’t just accept the status quo. They choose specific tools that make surveillance harder, and they often combine several layers of protection. Understanding what they use and why can help you make smarter purchasing decisions without falling for marketing hype.

What Readers Can Do

You don’t need to buy everything at once. Start with one or two changes that match your biggest privacy concern. Here are the categories that experts commonly recommend:

Hardware (Physical Privacy)

  • Webcam covers and microphone blockers. A simple slide-over cover for your laptop camera costs a few dollars and prevents any app from secretly recording you. Some experts also use USB-C microphone blockers for external mics.
  • Privacy screens. These filters narrow the viewing angle of your monitor so that someone beside you cannot see your screen. Useful in coffee shops and open offices.
  • Faraday bags or signal-blocking sleeves. For storing phones or key fobs when you want to guarantee no wireless communication (e.g., during sensitive meetings).

Software (Encryption and Anonymity)

  • VPNs. A trustworthy VPN (one that doesn’t log traffic) hides your IP address and encrypts your internet connection. Experts often avoid free VPNs because they may sell data; paid services like Mullvad or ProtonVPN are frequently cited.
  • Encrypted messaging. Signal and WhatsApp (with end-to-end encryption enabled) are standard recommendations. Avoid SMS-based messaging for anything sensitive.
  • Password managers. Using a password manager (Bitwarden, 1Password) lets you generate unique, strong passwords for every site, reducing the risk of credential theft that feeds AI-driven phishing models.
  • Ad and tracker blockers. Browser extensions like uBlock Origin or Privacy Badger stop many tracking scripts that feed AI advertising networks.

Behavioral Habits

  • Limit app permissions. On your phone, revoke permissions for apps that don’t genuinely need camera, microphone, or location access. Experts suggest reviewing these settings monthly.
  • Use incognito or private browsing modes. While not a complete anonymity solution, this prevents your browser history from being stored locally and reduces the data available for AI personalization.
  • Log out of services you don’t need. Staying permanently logged into Google or Facebook gives them continuous access to your activity.
  • Choose offline tools when possible. For simple tasks like note-taking, consider apps that don’t require internet access and store data locally.

Sources

The recommendations here are drawn from the VICE article and general best practices known in the privacy community. For detail, see the original report:

  • VICE. “AI Is Getting Creepy—Here’s What Tech Experts Are Buying to Stay Private.” April 29, 2026. Google News (note: full article may be behind paywall).