Create an AI account and sign in safely

You want to use an AI, but the sign-up screen asks for an email, a password or a phone number, and you hesitate. This guide explains the choices you are offered, helps you check that you are on the right site, and shows you how to protect your account.

Understand the sign-in options

The sign-in method is how the AI checks that it is really you. There are three main types.

• An existing account (Google, Microsoft or Apple). You use an account you already have. You don’t need to create a password for the AI.
• An email address. You can choose a password. You can also receive a one-time link or code (valid only once) by email.
• A phone number. A code can be sent to you by SMS, the text message on your phone. This option is not offered everywhere or by every AI.

Reminder for ChatGPT: an account created with Google, Microsoft or Apple does not have a ChatGPT password. Different methods can open different accounts, so always use the same method.

See which options each AI offers

The table lists the sign-in options and the minimum age given by each provider. The rules can change, so check the official site before you sign up.

AI	Sign-in options	Minimum age
ChatGPT	Google account, Microsoft account, Apple account, or email address with a password. A phone number alone is also possible for eligible new users, depending on the country or region.	13; between 13 and 18, parental consent required
Claude	Google account, or email address with a sign-in link sent by email. No Claude password to create. A phone number check is requested from new users.	18 (confirmed at sign-up; an age check by a third-party provider may be requested)
Copilot	Microsoft account, Apple ID or Google account. Signing in is optional on the web. On Windows, a Microsoft account is required for the app.	13 according to Microsoft, sometimes higher depending on the country
Gemini	Google account (personal, work with an eligible Workspace edition, or school account turned on by the administrator). Some features work without signing in.	13 or the age allowed in your country (personal or school account); 18 (work account)
Mistral (Vibe, formerly Le Chat)	Follow the screens on chat.mistral.ai to create an account or sign in. Your login details are the same as before the name change.	13; between 13 and 18, agreement of a parent or guardian
Perplexity	Apple or Google account, or email address with a sign-in link or a one-time code. Creating a password is not supported.	13; between 13 and the age of majority, a parent or guardian must accept the terms

Not sure which AI to pick? The free quiz can help you choose.

Check the address before you sign in

A fake site can copy the look of a real AI to steal your login details. This is called phishing: a scam that tries to get you to enter your information on a fake page.

Official addresses published by the providers:

• ChatGPT: chatgpt.com
• Claude: claude.ai
• Copilot: copilot.com and copilot.cloud.microsoft
• Gemini: gemini.google.com
• Mistral: chat.mistral.ai
• Perplexity: perplexity.ai

A few good habits:

• Type the address yourself in your browser, or use a bookmark (a shortcut) that you created yourself.
• Never enter your password on a page opened from a link you received in a message, even if the page looks identical.
• The sender’s address in a message can be faked. If you have any doubt, don’t use the link in the message.

Protect your account

A good password is hard to guess. The CNIL, the French data protection authority, gives these tips:

• Use at least 12 characters, mixing lowercase letters, uppercase letters, numbers and special characters (such as # or !). A shorter password can be enough if the account has extra security features.
• Avoid anything easy to guess: the name of a pet, a favorite movie, your date of birth.
• Use a different password for each important account.
• Don’t write your passwords on a sticky note, in a text file or in a messaging app.
• Never save your passwords in the browser of a shared computer.

CNIL tip: remember a sentence, then take the first letter of each word, adding numbers and special characters. A password manager (a tool that stores your passwords and protects them behind a single “master” password) can also help.

Two-factor authentication (a second proof requested in addition to the password) is recommended by the CNIL when the service offers it. If you sign in from an unknown device, the site will warn you by SMS or email: you approve or refuse the sign-in.

Finally, never give your password to an AI, not even to “fix” a problem.

What to do if sign-in fails

Check these points in order:

1. Use the same method and the same address you used when you signed up. A different method or address can open a different account.
2. Check the spam or junk folder of your email. For Claude, the sender is @mail.anthropic.com.
3. Wait a few minutes, then try again.
4. Update your browser. A page that doesn’t display properly can be caused by an outdated browser.
5. Turn off your VPN (software that hides your location online). Perplexity says its use is not recommended, because it can trigger frequent security checks.
6. If a code must arrive by SMS (this is the case with Claude), don’t use a VoIP number (a number that works over the internet) or a number created by an app: Claude does not accept them. An SMS code can take a few minutes to arrive. If nothing arrives after five minutes, start again and check the number you entered.
7. With Claude, if the sign-in message opens on another device, a verification code appears: enter it on the device where you requested the sign-in.
8. As a last resort, check the provider’s official help. For Claude, for example, see also Claude on the web.

Gemini may show the message “Something went wrong” depending on your region, age or type of account. For Claude, if you use Apple’s “Hide My Email” option, enter the address ending in @privaterelay.appleid.com when signing in by email.

You can ask an AI to help you understand an error message. Do not share your password or your verification codes with it.

Example request Explain to me, in simple sentences, the difference between signing in with my Google account and signing in with my email address.

Example request Give me a numbered list of checks to do if the sign-in email from [name of the AI] does not arrive. Explain each step in one sentence. I am not giving you my email address or my password.

Before signing in, make sure you are on the right site: see how to recognize an AI’s official site.

Good habits

• Check the site address before each sign-in, and don’t click a link in a message to sign in.
• Note the method and address you used when you signed up, so you don’t accidentally create a second account.
• Protect your information: a unique, strong password, two-factor authentication when available, and never give a password to an AI.
• Never share your verification codes.
• Review the AI’s answers before you use them. A well-protected account does not make an answer accurate.
• To choose your AI, read which AI to choose when you are a beginner.