Privacy Policy

Last updated: August 11, 2026

Privacy at a glance

AnswerSearch runs primarily on your own computer. Depending on your settings and whether you are using an Apple silicon Mac with Apple Intelligence enabled, a question may be answered on your device or sent directly to your selected AI provider, such as Anthropic or OpenAI, using your own API key. AnswerSearch's developer, ThisBrainAI LLC, does not receive your API key. It does not receive your questions or answers unless you choose to include them in an AI issue report. Settings are stored locally on your computer.

On-device AI

On Apple silicon Macs, AnswerSearch can use on-device AI if Apple Intelligence has been enabled to evaluate and answer eligible questions on your device. When local AI answers a question, the question and answer are not sent to Anthropic, OpenAI, or ThisBrainAI LLC.

Local AI is optional and experimental. If it is unavailable, unsupported, or unable to answer a question, AnswerSearch may send the question to your selected AI provider as described below.

Information sent off your device

When a question is not answered on your device, AnswerSearch sends it to your selected AI provider using the API key you provide. If you ask a related question, AnswerSearch may also send the immediately previous question and answer as context.

AnswerSearch includes the current date and time with your questions to help the AI provide time-aware responses. If you configure an optional city, region, country, or timezone, AnswerSearch may include that information with your questions to improve localized answers.

If you enable web search, your selected AI provider may perform server-side web searches as part of generating an answer.

AnswerSearch does not keep your search history. When you use OpenAI, AnswerSearch uses the OpenAI Responses API with response storage disabled. OpenAI states that API data is not used to train its models unless the customer opts in, although abuse-monitoring logs and other retention rules may still apply depending on the customer's account settings and request type. See OpenAI API data controls.

AI-provider processing, retention, billing, and training practices are governed by the selected provider's terms and policies.

Your question and corresponding answer are not sent to ThisBrainAI LLC unless you voluntarily include them in an AI issue report.

AI provider API keys

Your AI provider API key is stored locally on your computer. The Mac app stores the key in macOS Keychain. The installable Windows build stores the key in Windows credential storage. Development builds may use a local configuration file. The key is not stored in browser local storage, cookies, or client-side JavaScript. The AnswerSearch user interface does not communicate directly with Anthropic or OpenAI.

Your API key is sent only to your selected AI provider as an authorization secret when AnswerSearch makes a request on your behalf.

The key is never sent to ThisBrainAI LLC.

Information stored locally

AnswerSearch stores non-secret settings locally on your computer, such as model choice, optional location settings, and startup preferences. AnswerSearch does not store your search history, answer history, raw provider responses, or telemetry events.

While the application is running, AnswerSearch temporarily keeps only the immediately previous question and answer in memory so you can ask one related follow-up question.

Local app interface

On macOS, AnswerSearch uses a native Mac workspace backed by a local engine running on your computer. The Mac App Store build communicates with that local engine over private process pipes rather than a public AnswerSearch website.

On 1.0.1 and earlier versions, AnswerSearch may use a local browser interface served from your own computer on loopback, such as localhost or 127.0.0.1.

Telemetry

AnswerSearch does not include advertising and does not collect usage analytics or telemetry.

Deleting local data

AnswerSearch settings include controls to delete your API key, reset local settings, and delete all local AnswerSearch data. Before uninstalling AnswerSearch, you can use the in-app controls to remove stored credentials and settings.

AI issue reports

You can report incorrect, harmful, offensive, source-related, or otherwise problematic AI output using the Report an AI Issue page. If you submit a report, you choose whether to include the question, answer, and comments. This information is sent to ThisBrainAI LLC for support and review only when you submit the form. The report form does not ask for your email address.

Billing

If you use your own AI provider API key, your selected provider will bill you directly for API usage. AnswerSearch and ThisBrainAI LLC do not provide, resell, or bundle AI provider API access.

Contact

For privacy or support questions, contact answersearch@thisbrain.ai.