AI companion privacy: what stays on your computer
Understand local avatar rendering, OpenAI’s role in conversations, and Facelet’s account and diagnostic records. Covers the Mac app and the native Windows version in development.
Mac and Windows: Facelet is built natively for both. The Mac app is available now; the Windows PC version is coming soon, after signing and release testing. See Windows requirements and release status.
Local avatar rendering answers one privacy question: where the character is drawn. You also need to know where the conversation is processed, which accounts are connected, and what records the app’s operator keeps. These are separate parts of Facelet on Mac and of the native Windows version coming soon.
Where does my voice go?
When you talk through Facelet, OpenAI processes the conversation through your ChatGPT account. Local rendering does not make ChatGPT an offline service. The released Mac app sends the conversation to OpenAI rather than through Facelet’s billing servers; OpenAI’s terms and your account settings govern its handling of that data.
Who holds the conversation?
The Mac app starts a separate ChatGPT conversation and does not import a chat already open in ChatGPT. The upcoming Windows app uses a separately installed Codex helper signed in with ChatGPT. That helper manages its own OpenAI connection, so its account and data settings also matter.
What does the app itself see?
Facelet processes the reply audio locally to animate the mouth and face. Both native versions render the character on the computer’s graphics hardware. This avoids a separate cloud video renderer, but it does not remove the internet connection needed for ChatGPT, account checks and downloads.
What about my password?
Facelet activation and ChatGPT sign-in are separate. You should enter your ChatGPT password only in OpenAI’s sign-in flow. Signing out of the Facelet website is not the same as signing out of OpenAI. On Windows, the Codex helper’s sign-in is managed separately too.
What does Facelet, the company, know about me?
Facelet keeps account and billing information, activation records, and operational records such as trial requests and app diagnostics. Support messages and feedback may include information you choose to send. The privacy policy explains the categories, purposes and retention periods; it is more complete than a claim that an avatar is simply “private.”
Can I delete it?
Contact Facelet from the address on your account to request deletion under the privacy policy. Removing an app is separate from deleting online account and billing records. OpenAI account data is managed through OpenAI; a Facelet deletion request does not delete it.
What changes for Windows?
The native Windows app is still being qualified for release, including its installation, ChatGPT helper and account flows. Public downloads and trials remain closed until signing and release tests are complete. Read the Windows status page and the release’s privacy information before installing.
