Tech Experts Share What They’re Buying to Stay Private from Creepy AI

Intro

Every year, AI systems get better at recognizing faces, understanding voice commands, and predicting our behavior. For many tech experts, this progress comes with a side of unease. The same tools that make our lives convenient also collect vast amounts of personal data — often without clear consent or meaningful control.

A recent article in VICE surveyed security researchers, privacy advocates, and engineers about the products they actually use to shield themselves from invasive AI. Their picks aren’t exotic or expensive. Most are simple, low-cost items that block, encrypt, or limit the data that AI-driven systems can vacuum up. Here’s a practical look at what they recommend and why.

What happened

The VICE piece gathered advice from half a dozen experts in cybersecurity and digital rights. The common thread: AI tools are no longer optional add-ons in software; they are baked into phones, laptops, smart TVs, and even cars. Features like always-on voice assistants, facial recognition locks, and predictive text rely on constant data collection. Experts worry that this data is often shared with third parties, used to train new models, or sold to data brokers — sometimes without the user’s knowledge.

The experts didn’t just warn about risks; they shared specific purchases and settings changes they’ve made. The recommendations fall into three buckets: hardware, software, and everyday habits.

Why it matters

AI’s ability to analyze and store personal information has grown faster than most people’s awareness of it. For example, a facial recognition system on a smart doorbell doesn’t just identify your face — it may log every time you walk past, share that data with the cloud, and feed it into algorithms that can infer your schedule or relationships.

Voice assistants like Alexa and Google Assistant process recordings of your conversations, sometimes with human reviewers listening in. Even search engines and email providers use AI to scan messages for advertising targeting. The end result is a digital environment where privacy is opt-out by default, and the burden is on you to close the gaps.

What readers can do

Based on the expert recommendations in the VICE article and broader industry consensus, here are concrete steps you can take today.

Hardware picks

  • Privacy-focused phones: Several experts mentioned using GrapheneOS on a Google Pixel, or the Librem 5 from Purism. These phones strip out proprietary AI services and give you fine-grained control over sensors. For most people, starting with a standard phone and installing a custom ROM is a weekend project — but the experts say it’s worth the effort if you’re serious about privacy.
  • Camera covers: A $5 sliding camera cover for laptops and phones blocks physical access to your lens. Experts note that even if malware or an AI service tries to activate the camera, the cover makes it impossible.
  • Microphone blockers: Headphone jacks with built-in mute switches or USB-C mic blockers can physically disconnect your microphone when not in use. This prevents smart speakers or laptops from listening in.

Software choices

  • VPNs: Not all VPNs are equal. Experts point to Mullvad and ProtonVPN as services that accept anonymous payments and keep no logs. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it harder for AI-trained ad networks to track your browsing.
  • Encrypted messaging: Signal is the top recommendation. It uses end-to-end encryption by default and does not store metadata that could be analyzed by AI. WhatsApp uses the same encryption technology but shares metadata with parent company Meta.
  • Privacy browsers: Firefox with strict tracking protection or Brave are preferred because they block many AI-powered trackers that profile your behavior. A browser extension like uBlock Origin or Privacy Badger adds an extra layer.
  • AI-blocking extensions: Extensions like Facebook Container and Google Analytics Opt-out prevent AI systems on those sites from building detailed profiles from your visits.

Habits and settings

  • Turn off AI features you don’t need: In phone settings, disable “Hey Google,” “Hey Siri,” and “Alexa” wake-word detection. On Windows, turn off Cortana and timeline memory. On macOS, disable Siri and location-based suggestions.
  • Opt out of data sharing: Almost every smart device has a “privacy” or “data sharing” section in settings. Uncheck boxes that allow your data to be used for product improvement or third-party sharing. It takes a few minutes per device.
  • Use incognito or private browsing with caution: It prevents local history storage, but your ISP and AI trackers can still see your traffic. Incognito mode works best when combined with a VPN and a good blocker.

Sources

  • VICE, “AI Is Getting Creepy—Here’s What Tech Experts Are Buying to Stay Private” (April 2026). The article provides firsthand expert recommendations for hardware and software.
  • Pew Research Center (2018, 2021) background reports on the tech-driven future and the evolving relationship between humans and AI, which underscore the long-term trends experts are responding to.

These tools and habits won’t make you invisible, but they give you a fighting chance against the growing reach of AI surveillance. The key is to start small: pick one item from the hardware list and one from the software list, then try them for a week. For most people, the convenience you lose is less than the privacy you gain.