Privacy policy

Your library and speech

AudioBuddy stores imported or downloaded audio, playback position, transcripts, conversations, guides and artwork in the app’s local library. Speech recognition and spoken answers run on the device.

Your AI service

When you choose a cloud or network AI service, AudioBuddy sends it your question, the conversation so far and selected text from the recording. While the guide reads along, it also sends the transcript a section at a time. Podcast context can include episode show notes, and the context setting can include substantial portions of what you have heard. That service’s terms and privacy policy apply. With an on-device model, this processing stays on your device.

AudioBuddy Cloud and purchases

AudioBuddy Cloud is the AI service included with AudioBuddy Plus. To use it you sign in with Apple; AudioBuddy Cloud keeps a random account ID, a one-way hash of the identifier Apple provides for you (AudioBuddy doesn’t ask Apple for your name or email), your Plus and refill purchase records from the App Store, and a record of the AI usage allowance you receive and use.

When you ask a question, or the guide reads along, the app sends your question, conversation context and selected text from the recording to AudioBuddy Cloud, which passes them to OpenAI to write the answer, with a one-way hashed account identifier OpenAI uses to detect abuse. AudioBuddy Cloud doesn’t keep questions, book text or answers: for each request it records only its size, cost, timing and outcome, to measure usage. OpenAI’s API data policies apply to what it receives.

Payments are handled by Apple; AudioBuddy never sees your payment details. The free version and the one-time unlock don’t use AudioBuddy Cloud, and purchases of the unlock are checked on your device.

Downloads and other services

Podcast search and link resolution can contact Apple’s directory. Episode feeds and audio come from their publishers. If you sign in to Libro.fm, your email and password go to Libro.fm, which returns a sign-in used to list and download the audiobooks you’ve bought. If you connect an Audiobookshelf server, your sign-in details go only to that server. The Security Now archive uses GRC and TWiT sources. Real places named in a guide are looked up with Apple Maps. The optional Gemma model is downloaded from Hugging Face. These services receive the network information needed to respond, such as your IP address and the address requested.

Keys and shared links

API keys, your AudioBuddy Cloud sign-in and your Libro.fm and Audiobookshelf sign-ins are stored in Apple’s Keychain. The iPhone share extension passes shared episode links to the app through a shared Keychain group.

Deleting your data

Deleting an item from the library removes its locally stored files, including its transcript, conversation and guide. Remove API keys, or sign out of Libro.fm and Audiobookshelf, separately in Settings.

Deleting your AudioBuddy Cloud account in Settings signs it out everywhere, disconnects Sign in with Apple and removes any usage left this month; purchase and usage records are kept for accounting. A Plus subscription continues until you cancel it in your Apple Account’s subscription settings. Deleting local data does not delete information already processed by an outside service.

Support email

If you email support, we receive the information you include. Please don’t send API keys, passwords or private recordings.

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