Trust & choices · A fictional story

The note has extra luggage.

You want AI to tidy a client update. The work facts are useful. The personal aside? Maybe less so. Edit the fictional note before it travels.

What would you change?

One choice changes the story.

Pick a move. See what changes in the fictional example beside it.

Fictional note · not sent anywhere

Mina · Cedar Studio · [email protected]
Personal aside: moving house
Layout done. Product photos missing.
Ask for photos by Thursday to keep Friday’s review.

[data-story-controls], [data-story-interactive-result] { display: none !important; }No JavaScript needed to compare the outcomes below.

Read every outcome

Hide the name: The rest still travels.

The name is gone. The company, email and personal aside are still in the note. Replacing a name leaves other identifying details untouched.

Edited note · comparison only: Removed: Mina (Replaced with [Client]); Cedar Studio · mina@cedar.example (Moving house; layout done; photos needed Thursday.)

Keep work facts: Enough to write the update.

The scripted draft keeps the status, missing photos and deadline. The identity line and personal aside are left out. For this job, the work facts do the useful work.

Scripted draft from edited note: Removed: Identity line + personal aside (Left out of the prompt); The layout is ready. Could you send the product photos by Thursday so we can keep Friday’s review? (Authored output, not a live AI response)

Blank it all: Now the useful bits are missing.

The note just asks for a friendly update. The scripted reply has to ask what is done, what is missing and when you need it. A useful edit preserves enough context to do the job.

Too little context: Write a friendly update about the project. (The edited prompt); What’s complete, what’s missing, and when do you need it? (Scripted reply)

Read every outcome

Hide the name: The rest still travels.

The name is gone. The company, email and personal aside are still in the note. Replacing a name leaves other identifying details untouched.

Edited note · comparison only: Removed: Mina (Replaced with [Client]); Cedar Studio · [email protected] (Moving house; layout done; photos needed Thursday.)

Keep work facts: Enough to write the update.

The scripted draft keeps the status, missing photos and deadline. The identity line and personal aside are left out. For this job, the work facts do the useful work.

Blank it all: Now the useful bits are missing.

The note just asks for a friendly update. The scripted reply has to ask what is done, what is missing and when you need it. A useful edit preserves enough context to do the job.

Too little context: Write a friendly update about the project. (The edited prompt); What’s complete, what’s missing, and when do you need it? (Scripted reply)

Start with the help you need.

A wording edit needs enough context to write the message. It may have no use for the client’s identity or personal background. Which detail could you remove without changing the help?

What counts as enough?

Removing names does not automatically make a note anonymous or suitable for every AI service. The remaining facts may still identify someone. Check your organization’s rules, the service’s handling of data and whether you are allowed to use it for this task.

This is a purpose-and-context comparison, not a legal compliance verdict. All client information is invented; the email uses the reserved .example domain. The interactive never accepts, sends or saves client text.

All people, products, messages and outcomes in the story are invented. This is a scripted comparison, not a live AI call or a prediction. Your choices stay in page memory and reset on reload.

ICO: Data minimisation. Background on information being adequate, relevant and limited to its purpose. Reviewed October 12, 2026. The regulator notes its guidance is under review.