Arch-Pet Open the app
← All articles An old Labrador sleeping curled up on the sofa

How Arch-Pet uses AI and protects your data

4 min read · Updated October 26, 2026

We use AI in Arch-Pet only where it saves you real time. This page explains exactly when it’s used, what is sent, and the choices you have. For the full details, see our Privacy Policy.

The short version

Voice assistant

Your voice. Turning speech into text is done by your phone or browser’s own speech service (Apple, Google or your browser’s provider, depending on the device). Arch-Pet receives only the text, and never records or stores audio.

Understanding. Arch-Pet first tries to understand the text with its own rules, on your device. This handles most commands (“fed Brisa”) and questions about your records (“when did Brisa last walk?”). Answers to those questions come from your own data, not from an AI.

When AI is used. Only if Arch-Pet can’t understand a request, the words are sent to Google Gemini together with a short summary it needs to interpret them: your pets’ names and species, their checklist items and their current medicines. Gemini’s reply is checked twice, on our server and in the app, and anything that doesn’t match a real pet or item is discarded. You can turn AI off in Settings → “Use AI features”.

On your device. The app keeps your last 20 voice requests on your device only, so you can see what wasn’t understood. You can clear them at any time.

Vet-record import

When you import a vet PDF or photo, the file is stored privately in your account (only you can see it, not even your household members) and sent to Google Gemini to read it. We ask Gemini to extract only care information (vaccines, visits, weights, medicines, allergies and conditions) and never your name, address, phone or prices. You then review everything before it’s added, with unclear values highlighted, and you can undo an import or delete the document at any time.

About the AI service’s own terms

Arch-Pet uses Google’s paid Gemini API service. Under Google’s terms for that service, Google does not use the content it receives to improve its products; it keeps it for a limited time only to detect abuse and meet legal requirements. We still suggest covering personal details on documents, and you can turn off AI for voice.

Where your data lives

Your pets, records and documents are stored with Google Firebase (Google Cloud), encrypted in transit and at rest, and protected by security rules that let only you and the household members you invite reach your pets’ data. Lost-pet alerts share only an approximate area (about 5 km), never your exact location.

Your choices

AI can make mistakes. Answers marked as AI are not veterinary advice. Always check with your vet about your pet’s health.