AI Transparency & Policy
Last updated: April 2026
Publica.la integrates AI capabilities into the reading experience to help readers comprehend, interact with, and get more value from digital content. This page explains what AI features exist, how content is processed, what we do and do not do with publisher data, and what controls are available.
How We Use AI
All AI features are reader-facing tools, activated on-demand by the end user during a reading session. No AI processing occurs in the background or without explicit user action.
We make every effort to keep this list current, but it may not reflect the very latest additions at all times. Regardless, the commitments on this page regarding how content is processed, stored, and handled will not change without prior notice to publishers.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Explain | Reader selects a passage and receives a simplified explanation |
| Expand | Provides additional context and detail on a selected passage |
| Summarize | Generates a summary of selected text or page ranges |
| Translate | Translates selected text to the reader's preferred language |
| Dictionary | Provides definitions and part-of-speech information for selected words |
| Assessment Questions | Generates comprehension questions from the content for self-evaluation |
| Q&A | Answers reader questions based exclusively on the text of the publication |
| Text-to-Speech | Converts text to spoken audio using synthetic voice |
How Your Content Is Processed
- On-demand only: AI processing occurs only when a reader explicitly triggers a feature (e.g., selects text and taps "Explain"). There is no background processing or batch analysis.
- Minimal data sent: Only the selected text excerpt and minimal metadata (language, book title) are sent to the AI provider. No personally identifiable information about the reader is transmitted.
- Encrypted in transit: All data is encrypted using AES-256-CBC before transmission and travels over TLS 1.2+ connections.
Our Commitments
Publica.la is committed to the following practices regarding publisher content:
- Publisher content is not used to train, fine-tune, or improve any AI models.
- We do not generate or distribute derivative works from publisher content.
- Publisher content is not shared with third parties beyond the API calls described above.
- AI is used solely to enhance the individual reader's experience with the content they already have authorized access to.
Publisher Controls
Publishers can opt out of AI features at any time. To disable AI for your catalog, contact your account manager or reach out to support@publica.la.
AI Providers & Compliance
We work with enterprise-grade AI providers that maintain strict data handling policies:
| Provider | Used For | Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| OpenAI | Text comprehension tools (explain, expand, summarize, translate, dictionary, assessment, Q&A) | SOC 2 Type II, GDPR compliant, zero data retention on API inputs |
| Anthropic | Text comprehension tools (explain, expand, summarize, translate, dictionary, assessment, Q&A) | SOC 2 Type II, GDPR compliant, zero data retention on API inputs |
| Amazon Web Services (Polly) | Text-to-Speech | SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA eligible, GDPR compliant |
All providers operate under data processing agreements (DPAs) that prohibit them from using API inputs for model training or any purpose other than fulfilling the specific request.
What Is Not AI
For clarity, the following platform features do not currently use AI, machine learning, or any form of computational intelligence:
- Search: Uses traditional full-text database search on indexed metadata fields.
- Recommendations: Uses rule-based matching on BISAC (Book Industry Standards and Communications) category taxonomy. No machine learning is involved.
- Content intake and distribution: ONIX file processing and PDF optimization are purely mechanical operations with no AI component.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Publica.la use publisher content to train AI models?
No. Publisher content is not used for training, fine-tuning, or improving any AI model. Our AI providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, and AWS) contractually commit to not using API inputs for model training.
Is reader data shared with AI providers?
No personally identifiable information (PII) about readers is sent to AI providers. Only the selected text excerpt and minimal metadata (such as language preference) are transmitted.
Can publishers disable AI features entirely?
Yes. AI features can be fully disabled at the tenant level. Contact your account manager or support@publica.la to adjust settings.
Does this comply with GDPR?
Yes. All AI providers maintain GDPR-compliant data processing agreements. No personal data is sent to AI providers. For details on our broader privacy practices, see our Privacy Policy.
Are AI-generated outputs stored or redistributed?
AI outputs (explanations, translations, summaries, etc.) are delivered to the reader and are not redistributed by Publica.la.
Where can I find more technical details?
For a detailed technical overview including data flow diagrams and security architecture, see our AI Transparency & Data Handling documentation.
Contact
If you have questions about our AI practices or need additional documentation for your agreements, please contact us at support@publica.la.