At ThePodio AI ("ThePodio", "we", "us", or "our"), we are committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you use our mobile application and services. By using ThePodio AI, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

Personal Information: When you create an account, we collect your name, email address, school name, grade level, and competition level. This information is necessary to provide personalized coaching and track your progress.

Speech Recordings: We collect audio and video recordings of your practice sessions when you choose to record them. These recordings are used to provide AI-powered feedback and analysis. You can delete recordings at any time from your account.

Usage Data: We collect information about how you use our app, including which features you use most frequently, practice session frequency, and performance metrics. This helps us improve our services.

Device Information: We may collect device-specific information such as your device type, operating system, and unique device identifiers to ensure compatibility and improve app performance.

Analytics Data: We use Firebase Analytics and Aptabase to collect anonymous usage analytics, including app events, screen views, and feature usage. This data helps us understand how users interact with the app, identify issues, and improve the user experience. Analytics data is collected anonymously and is not used to personally identify you. You can control analytics collection through the app's telemetry settings in Profile → Settings.

We use the information we collect to:

We do not sell, trade, or rent your personal information to third parties. We may share your information only in the following circumstances:

We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including encryption of data in transit and at rest, secure authentication, and regular security audits. However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security. You acknowledge that you provide your information at your own risk.

Third-Party Services: We use third-party services (including Firebase, Google Cloud, SendGrid, and AI services) to provide our services. We also use Firebase Analytics and Aptabase for analytics and product insights. These services have their own privacy policies and security measures. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third-party services. For more information, please review:

You have the right to:

Our services are designed for students, including those under 18. We comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13 without parental consent. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information without your consent, please contact us immediately at support@thepodio.com and we will delete such information promptly.

Parental Rights: Parents or guardians of users under 18 have the right to review, request deletion of, or refuse further collection of their child's personal information at any time.

How to Delete Your Account: You can delete your account at any time by going to Profile → Account Management → Delete Account. You will be asked to confirm your decision, as account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone.

What Gets Deleted: When you delete your account, we permanently delete the following data:

Deletion Process: Account deletion is immediate and permanent. Once you confirm deletion, your account and all associated data will be removed from our systems. You will be automatically signed out and redirected to the login screen. This action cannot be reversed.

Data Retention After Deletion: After account deletion, we do not retain any personal information except where required by law, regulation, or for legitimate business purposes (such as fraud prevention or legal compliance). Any retained data will be anonymized and cannot be linked back to you.

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services and fulfill the purposes described in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. When you delete your account, we will delete or anonymize your personal information as described in Section 7 above, except where we are required to retain it for legal, regulatory, or business purposes.

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new policy in the app and updating the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of our services after such changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy. If you do not agree to the changes, you must stop using our services and may delete your account.

By accessing and using ThePodio AI, you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service. If you do not agree to these terms, please do not use our services.

By creating an account, downloading our app, or using our services, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms of Service and our Privacy Policy.

You must be at least 13 years old to use our services. If you are under 18, you represent that you have obtained parental or guardian consent to use our services. You must have the legal capacity to enter into these terms.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials. You agree to provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and to update such information to keep it accurate. You are responsible for all activities that occur under your account.

You agree to use our services only for lawful purposes and in accordance with these terms. You agree NOT to:

Free App: ThePodio AI is currently a completely free application with no paid subscriptions, in-app purchases, or premium features. All users have access to the full functionality of the app at no cost.

Credit System: The app uses a credit-based system for practice sessions. New users receive 100 credits upon signup. Users can also claim 3 additional credits daily by visiting the home page and tapping the "Claim 3 Credits" button. Each practice session costs 3 credits. Credits do not expire and can be accumulated over time.

No Payment Required: ThePodio AI does not collect payment information, process payments, or offer any paid subscriptions or in-app purchases. The app is provided free of charge during the beta/pilot period.

Future Pricing: While the app is currently free, we reserve the right to introduce paid features or subscriptions in the future. Any future pricing changes will be clearly communicated to users with advance notice, and existing free features will remain available.

All content, features, and functionality of our service, including but not limited to text, graphics, logos, and software, are owned by ThePodio AI and are protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works without our written permission. ThePodio AI and ThePodio are trademarks of ThePodio AI.

Our AI-powered feedback is provided for educational and practice purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, the feedback is generated by artificial intelligence and may not always be perfect, accurate, or complete. The feedback should be used as a supplement to, not a replacement for, guidance from qualified coaches and judges. We are not responsible for decisions made based solely on AI feedback. You acknowledge that AI feedback may contain errors and should not be relied upon as the sole basis for important decisions.

No Warranty: We make no warranties, express or implied, regarding the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any AI-generated feedback or analysis provided through our services.

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, THEPODIO AI, ITS AFFILIATES, OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, AND LICENSORS SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES RESULTING FROM YOUR USE OF OUR SERVICES. IN NO EVENT SHALL OUR TOTAL LIABILITY EXCEED THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO US IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRIOR TO THE CLAIM. THE FOREGOING LIMITATIONS SHALL APPLY EVEN IF WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

Termination by Us: We may terminate or suspend your account and access to our services immediately, without prior notice, for any breach of these Terms of Service. Upon termination, your right to use the service will cease immediately.

Termination by You: You may delete your account at any time through the in-app account deletion feature (Profile → Account Management → Delete Account). Account deletion is permanent and cannot be undone. Upon deletion, all your data will be permanently removed as described in our Privacy Policy (Section 7).

No Active Subscriptions: Since ThePodio AI is currently a free app with no paid subscriptions, there are no subscriptions to cancel when deleting your account. All account data will be permanently deleted as described in Section 7.

Beta Status: ThePodio AI is currently in beta testing. As such, the service may contain bugs, errors, or incomplete features. We reserve the right to modify, suspend, or discontinue any aspect of the service at any time without prior notice. By using the beta service, you acknowledge that you are using the service at your own risk and that we are not liable for any issues, data loss, or service interruptions that may occur during the beta period.

If you have any questions about these Terms of Service or our Privacy Policy, please contact us through the Report an Issue feature in the app or email us at support@thepodio.com.