AI Features and Your Privacy
How Ginkgo's optional AI features use OpenAI, what data is sent, and how to allow or withdraw permission.
Ginkgo’s AI features are optional, and they are off until you allow them. Nothing is sent to our AI provider, OpenAI, unless you have given explicit permission for that specific feature. Here’s how it works.
Permission comes first
The first time you use an AI feature, Ginkgo shows you exactly what data that feature sends to OpenAI and asks you to allow it. If you choose “Not now”, nothing is sent — every AI feature has a manual alternative, so declining never blocks you from using Ginkgo.
Each feature has its own separate permission:
- Camera analysis — sends the resized photo you choose, its file type, and image dimensions, so Ginkgo can suggest items from the photo. You can always add items and photos manually instead.
- Voice assistant — sends your voice recording and the resulting transcript, along with the names of saved items, locations, zones, and containers so Ginkgo can match your command to your inventory. You can add and move items manually instead.
- Smart text commands — sends the text command you type plus saved item, location, zone, and container names as matching context. Normal search and manual tools work without it.
- Project planner — sends your project goal, description, and due-date text so Ginkgo can draft tasks and reminders. You can build projects manually instead.
- Project cover — sends your project title and description, plus Ginkgo-owned mascot reference images, to create the project’s cover artwork. Declining keeps the standard Ginkgo project artwork instead.
Withdrawing permission
You can withdraw any AI permission at any time in the app under Profile → Privacy & security → OpenAI data sharing. Once withdrawn, that feature stops sending data to OpenAI until you allow it again. Our servers also check your permission before processing any AI request, so an out-of-date app cannot send data without it.
What is stored afterwards
- Items, photos, projects, tasks, and reminders you confirm are stored in your inventory like anything else you add.
- Your permission choices are stored so Ginkgo knows what you have allowed and when.
Search without AI
Ginkgo’s normal search runs against the item names, descriptions, notes, tags, and locations saved in your inventory. It does not use OpenAI and needs no permission.
Training
We do not use your Ginkgo inventory content to train Ginkgo-owned models, and OpenAI does not use content submitted through its API to train OpenAI models.
More information
For full details on data processing, see our Privacy Policy. For how to request deletion of your data, see Requesting data deletion.
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