Privacy policy

The short version

• MaQkrs AI Tutor is a study app for Mac, iPhone and iPad. Your study files, conversations and settings are stored on your device.
• There is no MaQkrs AI Tutor account and no sign-up.
• The app contains no analytics, advertising or tracking code, and it does not send your study material or conversations to us unless you choose to send something to us yourself, for example with Report Response or by email (section 5). We do not run a server that receives them.
• AI answers are produced on your device, by Apple's built-in on-device model or by an optional Google Gemma model you choose to download.
• The app connects to the internet only in the specific cases listed below: downloading a model, App Store purchases, an optional Apple cloud request that you review first, an optional response report that you send from your own mail app, and links you choose to open.

1. Information stored on your device

The app stores the following on your device, inside the app's own storage: - Workspaces and conversations: names, dates, your questions, the AI's answers (including any "reasoning" the model shows), which model was used, and the source passages used for an answer. - Study documents you import (PDF, text and code files you pick): the app stores the extracted text and the file name, not a link to the original file. It may also create a local search index of passages. Your original file is left where it was. - Images and videos you choose to attach or capture: prepared copies are kept in temporary app storage so the on-device model can read them. Some of these temporary copies can remain until the app's storage is cleared. - Settings and Personal Skills: display preferences and any tutoring instructions you write. - Review & Learn items: questions and answers you write from your sources, plus your approval choices. - Experimental training files (Mac only, optional): if you choose to run experimental training, the resulting files and a record of the run are saved on your Mac. They are private and switched off. - Downloaded AI models: stored on your device and excluded from device backups. - Reported responses: a list of which answers you reported (message IDs only), so the app can hide them. It stays on your device.

We cannot see any of this information. Depending on your device settings, your operating system's backups (for example, iCloud Backup or a computer backup) may include the app's data, except the downloaded model files. Exports, copies to the clipboard, and files you save elsewhere are under your control.

2. When the app connects to the internet

1. Downloading an AI model (optional). If you tap Download for a Gemma model, the app downloads the model files directly from Hugging Face (huggingface.co). This request tells Hugging Face which model files are being downloaded, and like any web request it reveals your IP address and basic connection details. No study material, conversation or account information is sent. The app doesn't use cookies or a login for this. Hugging Face's handling of these requests is covered by its own privacy policy: https://huggingface.co/privacy. You can also import an approved model from a folder instead of downloading it.
2. App Store and subscriptions. MaQkrs Pro is sold only through Apple's App Store. The app uses Apple's StoreKit to show subscription options and prices, process a purchase you start, check with Apple whether you have an active Pro subscription (at launch and when you return to the app), and restore purchases when you tap Restore Purchases. The app keeps only what it needs to unlock Pro on your device: which product is active and when it expires, as confirmed by Apple. Apple handles all billing, payment details, renewals, cancellations and refunds under Apple's privacy policy (https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/). We don't receive your payment card details or Apple Account information, the app doesn't send your purchase records to us, and we don't run a purchase server. Apple may give developers aggregated or limited sales and subscription reports through App Store Connect.
3. Apple Private Cloud Compute (optional; only where available). On supported devices with the latest operating system and Apple's permission, you may choose to send a request to Apple's cloud model. The app first shows you the exact text that would be sent: instructions, conversation, and any selected source text or Personal Skill. Nothing is sent unless you approve that specific request. If you cancel, the request isn't sent and the app does not switch to another service. Apple handles these requests under its own terms and privacy policy. This feature may be unavailable in your version of the app.
4. Reporting a response (optional). If you tap Report Response, the app opens an email to support@nonartificialsi.com in your mail app. It is pre-filled with the reason and note you choose, the AI model name, the app version and build, the date and time, and up to 2,000 characters of the reported answer. Nothing is sent unless you send that email yourself, and you can review and edit it first. If your mail app doesn't open, the app shows the report so you can copy it.
5. Links you open. If you tap a link (for example, a model information page, App Store subscription management, or a link inside an answer), it opens in your browser or another app, and that website receives a normal web request. Images inside AI answers are not loaded automatically.

The app does not use the network to run the on-device AI models. Apple's on-device model and the operating system's own services (such as text-to-speech voices) are provided by Apple under Apple's terms.

3. Permissions the app may ask for

• Camera: only if you choose to take a photo (or, on Mac, record a short video) to ask about. Photos and videos are processed on your device.
• Microphone: used only when you choose to record audio for a study session. Audio recording is a planned feature that isn't switched on in the current beta. When it arrives, recordings will be processed on your device by the on-device model and kept in the app's storage on your device. They won't be sent to us. If audio ever needs to be sent anywhere off your device, we'll update this policy and ask you first.
• Files: only the files and folders you pick yourself, for importing study material or exporting a chat.

The app does not access your contacts, location, photo library, calendars or Bluetooth. You can change permissions at any time in your device's Settings (iPhone/iPad) or System Settings > Privacy & Security (Mac).

4. What we do NOT do

• We do not sell, rent or share your personal information, and the app does not collect it except what you choose to send us (section 5).
• We do not track you across other companies' apps or websites, and the app shows no ads.
• We do not use your study material or conversations to train any model. Experimental on-device training (Mac only) happens on your Mac, only when you start it, and the result stays on your Mac.

5. Information you send us yourself

If you email us, we receive your email address, your message, and any attachments. We use these only to reply, to investigate reported responses and fix problems, and we keep them only as long as needed for that. Report Response emails include the items listed in section 2. Please don't send passwords, student records or other sensitive information. Email passes through email providers.

TestFlight beta testers: if you test a beta through Apple's TestFlight, Apple may share with us the name and email you were invited with, along with crash reports, usage statistics and any feedback or screenshots you choose to submit. Apple's TestFlight terms describe what Apple collects. We use this information only to test and fix the app.

6. Keeping and deleting your information

• Everything described in Section 1 stays on your device until you delete it.
• In the app you can delete conversations, documents and workspaces. On Mac you can also delete saved training files. Some copies may remain, for example passages already quoted in a saved answer, or temporary media files, until you delete the related workspace or the app.
• Deleting the app removes the app's storage from that device. Copies in device backups, exports or files you saved elsewhere are not removed by the app.
• Because we don't hold your app data, we can't access, export or delete it for you, but you can always contact us with questions.

7. Children

MaQkrs AI Tutor is intended for adults aged 18 and over. It is not directed at children, and we do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18. If you believe a child has sent us information (for example by email), contact us and we will delete it.

8. Security

Your data stays in the app's protected storage on your device, under your device's security (passcode, FileVault, and so on). Model downloads use encrypted HTTPS connections, are limited to Hugging Face, and are checked against known fingerprints before use.

9. Your rights

Depending on where you live, you may have rights to access, correct or delete personal information, or to object to processing. Because the app keeps your study data on your device, you control it directly. For information we receive by email, contact us at the address above.

10. Changes

If this policy changes, we'll update the effective date above and, for significant changes, say so in the app or in the release notes.

11. Contact

Andrew Strachan, an individual developer based in Alabama. Email: support@nonartificialsi.com