Stop AI Coding Assistants Training on Your Game Code

Updated 7 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

This article explains how to stop AI coding assistants from training on your game code, covering the practical privacy controls available today. You can prevent most AI tools from using your code for training by adjusting account settings, using enterprise plans, or following repository best practices—though the exact steps depend on the tool. Below is a detailed guide to the options, their limitations, and how to choose the right setup for your project.

Background: How AI Coding Assistants Train

AI coding assistants like GitHub Copilot, Tabnine, and Amazon CodeWhisperer are built on large language models trained on publicly available code, typically from open-source repositories. When you use these tools, your code snippets and prompts may be sent to the vendor’s servers to generate suggestions. Some vendors use this interaction data to further train or fine-tune their models, while others explicitly do not. Understanding this distinction is the first step in controlling your privacy.

For game developers, code is often proprietary and represents significant intellectual property. A leak or unintended inclusion in a training dataset could expose trade secrets, especially for unreleased games or unique mechanics. This is why many developers seek to disable training on their code entirely.

How to Disable Training: The Core Controls

Each major AI coding assistant offers a different level of control. Here’s what you can do:

GitHub Copilot: For individual users, go to GitHub Settings > Copilot > Data controls and enable the “Allow GitHub to use my code snippets for product improvements” toggle to off. For organizations, admins can set a policy that prevents Copilot from using code for training. However, even with this off, Copilot still sends your code to Microsoft to generate suggestions—it just won’t be used for model training.
Tabnine: Tabnine offers a “privacy mode” that ensures your code is never stored or used for training. This is available on paid plans; the free version may use anonymized data for training. Check your account dashboard for the privacy toggle.
Amazon CodeWhisperer: By default, CodeWhisperer does not use your code to train models, but you can opt in to share data for improvement. To be safe, ensure the “Data sharing” setting is turned off in your AWS console.
Local-only tools: Tools like Continue.dev or local models (e.g., via Ollama) run entirely on your machine, so no code ever leaves your computer. This is the most privacy-preserving option, though it requires more setup and computing power.

For enterprise teams, the most reliable method is to use a paid plan with a signed contract that explicitly prohibits training on your code. Many vendors offer this as a standard clause in business agreements.

Choosing the Right Setup for Your Game Project

Deciding which approach to take depends on your team size, budget, and threat model. Here are the factors to consider:

Team size: Individual developers can often rely on per-user settings, but larger teams need centralized admin controls to enforce policies.
Budget: Free tiers often have weaker privacy guarantees. Paid plans (usually $10–$20 per user/month) offer more control and legal backing.
Code sensitivity: If your game code includes unreleased features or proprietary algorithms, consider a local-only tool or a vendor with strict no-training policies.
Compliance: If you work with external clients or publishers, you may be contractually obligated to protect their IP. In that case, enterprise agreements are essential.

A practical approach is to start with a vendor that offers a clear “no training” toggle, test it with a small team, and review the logging and data retention policies before committing.

Common Problems and Misconceptions

One common misconception is that turning off training means your code is not sent to the vendor at all. In reality, most AI assistants need to send your code to generate suggestions—they just don’t retain it for training. So, if you’re worried about code leaving your machine, a local tool is the only way to prevent that.

Another issue is that some tools have hidden settings or default to training. For example, older versions of certain assistants had training enabled by default, and users had to manually opt out. Always check the latest documentation, as defaults can change.

Finally, even with training disabled, your code may still be used to improve the service (e.g., for debugging or quality assurance). Read the privacy policy carefully to understand what “no training” actually means.

Comparison of Popular AI Coding Assistants

Here’s a quick comparison of the main tools’ privacy stances:

GitHub Copilot: Offers a toggle to disable training for individuals and organizations. Code is still sent to Microsoft for suggestion generation. Enterprise plans can sign a Data Protection Agreement.
Tabnine: Privacy mode available on all paid plans; code is never stored or used for training. Free plan may use anonymized data.
Amazon CodeWhisperer: Data sharing is opt-in, so it’s off by default. Individual developers can disable it in settings.
Local tools (Continue, Tabby): No data leaves your machine, but you need to run models locally, which requires a decent GPU and technical know-how.

Note that this comparison is based on publicly available information as of 2024; always verify with the vendor’s current documentation.

Costs and Trade-offs

Privacy often comes at a price. Free tiers of AI assistants typically have weaker privacy controls, while paid plans (starting around $10/user/month) offer toggles and legal protections. Enterprise plans can cost significantly more but include custom contracts and admin controls.

The trade-off is between convenience and control. Local models are free but require hardware and setup time. Cloud-based assistants are plug-and-play but involve sending code to third parties. For most game developers, a paid plan with a no-training toggle strikes a reasonable balance.

Safety and Legal Considerations

Even with training disabled, be aware that AI assistants may generate code that resembles copyrighted material, which could lead to legal issues. Also, if you work with a publisher or platform, they may have specific requirements about AI usage. Always consult your legal team if you’re unsure.

For open-source games, you might not care about training—but if you do, remember that public repositories are already scraped by many AI companies, so disabling training only affects your future interactions with the assistant.

Alternatives: Full Control Over Your Code

If you want absolute privacy, consider these alternatives:

Local AI models: Run open-source models like CodeLlama or StarCoder on your own hardware. Tools like Ollama or LM Studio make this easier.
Traditional code completion: Use IDE features that don’t rely on AI, such as IntelliSense or snippets. They’re less powerful but completely offline.
Internal training: Train a custom model on your own codebase using a private server. This is costly but gives you full control.

These alternatives sacrifice some convenience for privacy, but for highly confidential projects, they may be worth it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does turning off training in GitHub Copilot stop my code from being sent to Microsoft?
No. Copilot still sends your code to Microsoft to generate suggestions, but it won’t be used for training. If you want to prevent code from leaving your machine, use a local tool.

Q: Can I use AI coding assistants for free without training on my code?
Some free tiers, like CodeWhisperer, have training off by default. Others, like Tabnine’s free plan, may use anonymized data. Check each tool’s privacy policy.

Q: Does my code get stored on the vendor’s servers?
Usually, code snippets are processed transiently and may be stored for a short period for debugging or quality assurance. Paid plans often have stricter data retention policies.

Q: What if I use a company-provided AI assistant?
Then the company’s admin controls apply. Ask your IT department to ensure training is disabled and that a data processing agreement is in place.

Q: Are there any legal requirements to disclose AI usage in my game code?
Not generally, but if you use open-source licenses, you must comply with those. Some publishers may have policies. Always check your contracts.

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