Effective and last updated: November 12, 2026. Version 1.

How Big Cal uses OpenAI

OpenAI provides Big Cal's live AI voice and helps understand optional typed requests and scans. The voice you hear is AI-generated. You choose whether Big Cal may share information for these features.

What may be shared

• Live voice: what you say, transcribed words and relevant calendar information needed for your request. Live audio can go directly from your device to OpenAI; Big Cal's server authorizes and coordinates the session.
• Typed calendar requests: your words and relevant calendar details needed to answer or make the requested change.
• Scans: images you select and text read from them, which may contain names, appointments, addresses or medical information.
• Cloud read-aloud: the text you ask Big Cal to turn into speech.

Relevant details can include event titles, times, locations, notes and people you mention. Do not include information you do not want processed or do not have permission to share. Big Cal does not upload your entire address book.

What happens to scans and AI data

Big Cal may temporarily upload larger scan images to private storage on Vercel so they can be processed without reducing image quality. The service attempts to remove these images after processing. Upload authorization expires after 20 minutes, and scheduled cleanup is designed to remove expired originals. A failed cleanup can delay removal; expiration does not guarantee that the stored image has already been erased.

OpenAI's API data controls explain its retention, security processing and model-training rules. These rules are different from settings for a personal ChatGPT account. Deleting a temporary original scan from Big Cal storage does not by itself delete request or response content retained by OpenAI. Provider retention depends on the API used and the applicable settings; Big Cal does not promise zero retention. The Big Cal Privacy Policy explains other service providers, storage and deletion. Opening a policy link does not grant permission to share your calendar or start a voice session.

Getting started with voice

• Read the sharing explanation and choose Allow only if you want to use AI features. Opening this page is not consent.
• Use eligible Big Cal sign-in or securely linked access, or a verified monthly subscription, for hosted voice. A separate ChatGPT account is not required.
• Allow microphone access when you are ready to speak. It lets Cal hear your request.
• Start the conversation yourself. When you finish, choose Disconnect to stop listening.

You can choose Not now, continue by hand, and return to voice setup later. Signing in, buying a subscription or granting microphone access does not replace your separate permission to share information with OpenAI.

Your choice

Big Cal asks before sending information to OpenAI. Choose Not now if you do not want to share. You can still view and change Apple Calendar by hand and print. A typed AI request also needs sharing permission.

You choose when to start a live conversation. Disconnect stops listening. To stop future AI sharing, open More, then Privacy & Safety and turn sharing off. Turning sharing off does not erase information already processed. Use the data-deletion control or contact us for help with deletion.

Offline practice does not use a live AI session or change your real calendar. Its optional speech practice uses on-device recognition; buttons remain available. Bundled lesson recordings play locally.

Check important details

AI can make mistakes. Check important dates, times, names and invitation recipients. Clear, fully resolved requests can create a simple event directly. Missing information gets a question; other changes retain their review safeguards. Big Cal confirms a save only after checking the saved result.

Questions or help

Big Cal is operated by Actually Good Ideas LLC. Contact privacy-bigcal@actuallygoodideas.com for privacy or support questions. You do not need to send medical or calendar details just to ask for help.