Axo Privacy Policy
Axo is an iOS app for practicing spoken Spanish with an AI tutor. It is built and run by one person — Bruce Garro (“we”, “us”). This page explains what Axo collects, why, and what happens to it. The short version: we collect the minimum the app needs to work, your voice never leaves your phone, and we do not run ads, track you across other companies' apps or websites for advertising, or sell data.
What we collect
- Account details. Accounts are optional. If you create one, we store your email address and, if you choose to set one, a display name. We may occasionally use your email to tell you about new Axo features; every such email includes a simple way to opt out, and opting out never affects your account.
- Conversation text. When you talk to the tutor, your speech is transcribed into text on your device. That text — not the audio — is sent to our server so the tutor can reply.
- Learner memory. If you are signed in, we keep a small profile the tutor builds while you practice: facts you have told it (for example, “has a dog named Luna”), which words you have used or struggled with, and an estimated level. This is what lets the tutor remember you between sessions.
- Server logs. Standard technical logs, including IP addresses, used for security, abuse prevention, and rate limiting. Logs can include short excerpts of messages for debugging. They rotate automatically and are not kept long-term.
- Product use and diagnostics. We collect app interactions (such as starting a mission or using the microphone), technical app/device information, and numeric performance and speech-session diagnostics. These records use a pseudonymous installation identifier. Our server can associate first-party telemetry with your account when you are signed in. We do not include conversation text or raw audio in the analytics event payloads.
What we do not collect
- Your voice. Speech recognition happens on your device using Apple’s speech recognition. Raw audio is never uploaded — only the resulting text.
- Anything for advertising. We do not use advertising identifiers, sell data, or share data for third-party advertising. We use product analytics to understand and improve Axo, as described below.
How we use your data
We use the data described above for these purposes:
- Generating the tutor’s replies — your message text and recent conversation context are sent to OpenAI to produce each response.
- Safety — each message you send is automatically checked by OpenAI’s moderation service before the tutor replies.
- Remembering your progress — building the signed-in learner memory described above.
- Keeping the service running — security, abuse prevention, and rate limiting via server logs.
- Understanding and improving the app — measuring how features are used, where conversations fail, and how reliably the app performs.
- Product updates — if you have an account, we may occasionally email you about new Axo features. Every such email has a simple opt-out, honored right away, and opting out never affects account emails like password resets or your account itself.
Who receives your data
Our service providers include:
- OpenAI — our AI processor. Your messages are sent as text to OpenAI’s API for two purposes only: generating the tutor’s replies and automated safety moderation. The app asks for your explicit consent before any message is shared with OpenAI, and tells you at that moment what is sent (what you say or type, as text) and who receives it (our server and OpenAI). OpenAI processes this data as our service provider under its API data-processing terms, which we have reviewed and which provide protection for your data equivalent to this policy — including that API data is not used to train OpenAI’s models and is retained by OpenAI only briefly for abuse monitoring before deletion.
- Amazon Web Services (AWS) — our hosting provider. Our server and database run on AWS in the United States, protected under AWS’s standard data-processing terms, which likewise provide equivalent protection.
- PostHog — product analytics hosted in the United States. The app sends a limited set of interaction events, a pseudonymous installation identifier, and technical app/device properties. The analytics adapter does not send your account email, conversation text, or voice recordings. IP-based geographic enrichment is disabled. This analytics use is separate from the consent to send conversation text to OpenAI.
We would disclose information beyond this only if the law genuinely required it.
Retention and deletion
- Account data and learner memory are kept for as long as your account exists.
- Deleting your account in the app (Profile → Delete account) immediately and permanently deletes your account, sign-in tokens, learner memory, and associated first-party telemetry.
- Server logs rotate automatically on a short cycle. First-party telemetry is subject to automatic age and storage limits.
- PostHog analytics records are stored separately from your app account and are not automatically erased by the in-app account deletion flow. Contact us about access or deletion requests for analytics data.
Your choices and rights
- You can use Axo without an account; the tutor’s memory then stays on your device only.
- You can delete your account, learner memory, and associated first-party telemetry in the app at any time. Separate analytics records are described above.
- You can email us at brucegarro@gmail.com to ask what we hold about you, request a copy, or have it removed.
Children
Axo is not directed at children under 13. App Store age ratings can vary by region; consult the listing for your storefront. We do not knowingly collect data from children under 13; if you believe a child has created an account, email us and we will delete it.
Crash reporting
Axo uses the product analytics and performance diagnostics described above. We may receive crash reports shared through Apple's diagnostic and beta-testing services. We do not currently use a separate third-party crash-reporting service.
Changes to this policy
If this policy changes, we will update this page and its effective date, and flag material changes in the app.
Contact
Bruce Garro — brucegarro@gmail.com