💼 💸 Day : – Asambe! 💼 💸

12 AUGUST 2025

DAY 2

Day 2: AI Knows More About You Than You Think – Asambe!

Awe Digital Hustlers,

The R12 Billion Data Heist. AI Knows More About You Than You Think...

Ever wonder why Instagram ads feel like they're reading your mind?

That’s AI spotting patterns, predicting your next move, and sometimes crossing the line.

Today, we’ll unpack how AI “learns” about you and why you should control that data.

Your task: Run a free AI data check-up tool to see what companies already know about you.

The results might shock you, but hey, knowledge is power, and today you start taking your power back.

This isn’t just about privacy; it’s about ownership.

If you get the game, you can play it to your advantage.

Today's Eye-Opening Story: Meet Nomfundo from Durban

Last month, Nomfundo Dlamini, a 23-year-old marketing student from UKZN, got a job offer from a company she’d never heard of.

How did they find her?

AI had scanned her social media, academic records, and even her Spotify playlists to label her a “high-potential creative professional.”

"It was creepy but also amazing," Nomfundo admits. "They knew I loved Amapiano, studied part-time, and was looking for remote work. The AI knew me better than most recruiters!"

But when she tried to see what data they had on her, she hit a wall.

The company said their AI algorithms were proprietary, basically "We know everything about you, but you can’t see what we know."

If you don’t control your data, someone else is cashing in.

In South Africa alone, personal data generates over R12 billion a year for big tech companies.

Shouldn’t you get a piece of that pie?

Day 2 Mission: Your Digital DNA Investigation & Power Reclaim

STEP 1: The "What Does AI Know?" Reality Check (5 minutes)

Let’s start with a quick exercise.

Open these platforms and see what they think they know about you:

📱 Instagram:

• Go to Settings → Ads → Ad Topics

• Screenshot what categories Instagram assigns to you

🎵 Spotify:

• Visit spotify.com/us/account/privacy/

• Check "Your Privacy Controls" → "Data Processing Purposes"

• See how they categorise your music taste for recommendations

📧 Gmail (if you use it):

• Go to myaccount.google.com/data-and-privacy

• Click "Data from apps and services you use"

• View "Ad Personalisation" data

Count how many data categories these platforms have on you.

Most people find 50-100+ categories they never agreed to.

STEP 2: The South African Data Freedom Test (4 minutes)

Now, let’s peek at what local SA companies might know about you:

🏦 Banking AI Data Check:

• Log into your banking app

• Find "Privacy Settings" or "Data Usage"

• Check what spending patterns they analyse

🛒 Takealot/Other SA Retailers:

• Check your account for "Personalisation" or "Recommendations"

• See how they profile your shopping habits

📺 DSTV/Showmax:

• Look for "Viewing History" and "Recommendations Settings"

• Discover how entertainment AI builds your profile

Write down 3 things these platforms know about you that even your family might not.

STEP 3: Take Back Your Power – Free Data Audit Tools (8 minutes)

Time for a deeper dive using free, professional tools:

🔧 Tool 1: Privacy Checkup with Google

• Visit myaccount.google.com/privacycheckup

• Go through each section and tweak your settings

• Watch out for "Web & App Activity" and "Location History"

🔧 Tool 2: Facebook's "Your Information" Audit

• Go to facebook.com/your_information (even if you barely use Facebook)

• Download your data (warning: it might be 500MB+!)

• Check "Off-Facebook Activity" — prepare to be surprised

🔧 Tool 3: Apple Privacy Report (iPhone users)

• Settings → Privacy & Security → Privacy Report

• See which apps track you most aggressively

🔧 Tool 4: Android Privacy Dashboard

• Settings → Privacy → Privacy Dashboard

• View your 24-hour data access summary

Pick the most shocking discovery and share it (anonymously) in our WhatsApp group.

STEP 4: The Strategic Counter-Move (3 minutes)

Now, flip the script.

Instead of being a data source, become a data strategist:

Ask ChatGPT-5 this exact question:

"I'm a young South African who wants to understand how my personal data creates value. If companies use my data to generate revenue through AI, what are three ways I can leverage my own data more strategically to achieve my career or business goals? Please give practical examples relevant to the South African market."

Follow up with:
"How can I use AI tools to analyse my own digital behaviour patterns to make better decisions about my career, health, or finances?"

Save the most useful tip from ChatGPT’s reply.

Today's Knowledge Gap

Here’s what you’ve uncovered today:
 ✅ You generate valuable data that’s worth billions to others
 ✅ Most platforms know you better than you know yourself
 ✅ Simple privacy tweaks can cut unwanted tracking
 ✅ Your data holds strategic value that you can use

But you’re probably wondering:
❓ How do I turn data awareness into real income?
❓ What privacy tricks do the pros use?
❓ How can AI help me analyse my own patterns?
❓ Which data should I guard, and which should I share?

These questions separate digital natives from digital masters.

Today’s just the start.

Resources to Become a Data Detective

Free Privacy & Data Tools:

• ProtonMail: Secure email that doesn’t scan your messages

• Brave Browser: Blocks trackers and ads automatically

Educational Resources:

• "The Age of Surveillance Capitalism" (Summary): Search on YouTube

• Data Protection Authority SA: inforegulator.org.za

• Privacy International: privacyinternational.org/features

SA-Specific Privacy Tools:

• POPIA Compliance Checker: Ask ChatGPT about your rights under the Protection of Personal Information Act.

• ICASA Consumer Portal: Learn Your Telecommunications Data Rights.

Free Tools for Today’s Task

Have I Been Pwned – Check if your email or password has been exposed in data breaches.

Blacklight Privacy Inspector – Scan websites to see how they track your data.

PrivacyTools.io – Find resources to protect your digital footprint.

Mozilla Rally – Understand the data trails you leave behind.

Proudly South African.

Strategically Data-Savvy.

Unapologetically In Control.

Your data, your rules, your advantage.

ASAMBE!

P.S. Found something surprising in your data audit? Don’t panic, knowledge is power, and now you’re armed with it. Share your discoveries with family or friends in the WhatsApp group for support and strategising.

Your friends, parents or community probably need to see this too. Forward this challenge to someone who needs to understand what big tech knows about them.

Click the link below to join our 21-Day AI Tools & Trends Challenge WhatsApp Community: 

Follow this link to join our WhatsApp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/C7onGJOS7to8do2iOZevvF?mode=ac_t

NB: Please note the group is temporary; it will be deleted after the challenge.

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Take ACTION TODAY! 

The time is NOW!

ASAMBE!

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