A chatbot can use the information its app gives it for a reply. That usually starts with what you type and may include earlier messages in the conversation. If you attach a file, turn on memory, search the web, or connect another app, it may get more. The exact set depends on the product and your settings.
Start with a kitchen-table test
Imagine asking, “What is on my kitchen table?” If you have only typed that question, the chatbot cannot inspect your room. Send a photo, and it may describe what is visible in the photo. That still does not tell it what is behind the camera or whether the photo is current.
Your request
What you type, plus relevant parts of the current conversation and the app’s instructions.
Attachments
A photo, document, recording, or other supported file you choose to share.
Memory and history
Relevant details from past chats or saved preferences, where the app offers them.
Search and connected apps
Information retrieved from the web or services you connect, within their permissions.
Does it read my whole computer?
A regular chat does not automatically open every file on your device. A file you attach becomes material the app can process. Some desktop tools or connected services can reach more when you give them access. For example, a connected drive may let the app search files your account is permitted to see. Check the permission screen and the app’s settings before connecting one.
Even when a document is attached, the app may extract only part of it or handle text and images differently. If a detail matters, ask which passage supports the answer and check the original file yourself.
What about old conversations?
The current chat and a saved memory are different things. Some apps can use relevant details from earlier chats or saved preferences if those features are on. They do not necessarily pass every old message to the model. ChatGPT, for example, says its memory features and controls vary by plan, region, and settings. You can review its available memory controls and ask what it remembers.
Can it look up today’s news?
Only if the app has a working search or browsing feature and uses it for that answer. Without fresh information, a confident reply about today may be out of date. A retrieved page can also be wrong or misread, so open important sources yourself.
Try this
Ask a chatbot what color a nearby object is, without describing or photographing it. Then attach a clear photo and ask again. Look for the difference between a guess and an answer grounded in something you supplied. Before sharing a personal file or connecting an app, read the permission screen and check the product’s data controls.
Ask “What information did this app give the model for this answer?” That is more useful than assuming the chatbot sees either nothing beyond your message or everything you can see.
Sources & further reading
Product features and controls may change. These primary sources were reviewed October 19, 2026.