Kioskly AI

Question

What data does an AI receptionist send?

Before you put a microphone on your counter, it's worth knowing where the words go.

3 min readBy the Kioskly AI team

Quick answer

Most AI receptionists send the customer's question, as audio or text, plus your business information to an AI service that writes the reply. Check where speech is turned into text, who the AI provider is, whether it keeps or trains on the data, and what the camera does. Kioskly AI turns speech into text on the device where supported, sends the text and your business information to DeepSeek after you consent, and keeps autodetect video on the device.

What an AI receptionist can handle

  • Voice: what customers say, as audio.
  • Text: the question once it's been transcribed, and the answer.
  • Camera: some assistants use a camera to notice people.
  • Your business information: notes, documents and web pages the AI uses to answer.
  • App data: usage analytics and crash reports.

The questions to ask are where each one is processed, who receives it, and what they're allowed to do with it.

Exactly what Kioskly AI sends

This summarizes our privacy policy, which has the full details.

  • Nothing is sent to the AI service until you agree. An in-app consent screen comes first, and you can withdraw consent in Settings › Privacy.
  • During setup, your business information and greeting go to DeepSeek, a third-party AI service, to suggest questions and translate the greeting.
  • In Employee Mode, the text of customers' questions, your business information and recent turns of the same conversation go to DeepSeek to write the spoken replies.
  • Customers' voices: spoken questions are turned into text on the device where iOS supports it, so the audio isn't sent to DeepSeek.
  • The camera: autodetect uses the front camera only to notice someone walking up, and the video stays on the device.
  • DeepSeek's own terms: it processes the data on its own servers, outside the European Economic Area in China, and may keep it and use it to improve its models.
  • The app itself collects usage analytics and crash reports to improve Kioskly AI. It shows no ads and doesn't sell your data.

Your part as the business owner

  • Tell customers. A sign near the device is the simplest way.
  • Keep sensitive details out. Don't add, or invite customers to share, payment, health or identity details.
  • Check your local rules. Data protection laws like the GDPR may require you to inform customers in a specific way.

A privacy checklist for any AI receptionist

  • Where is speech turned into text?
  • Which AI provider writes the replies?
  • Does the provider keep or train on the data?
  • Where are its servers?
  • Is there a consent step before data is sent?
  • What does the camera do, if there is one?
  • Are conversations stored, and where?
  • Can you withdraw consent or delete data?
  • Which analytics does the app use?
  • Does it show ads or sell data?

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to tell customers about the assistant?

Usually, yes. Kioskly AI's privacy policy makes the business responsible for informing customers as its local law requires. A small sign saying an AI assistant answers questions here, and that questions are processed by an AI service, is a good start.

Does Kioskly AI record customers?

It listens while a customer speaks and turns the question into text, on the device where supported, so the audio isn't sent to the AI service. The app keeps the questions and its answers so it can show you what customers asked and what it couldn't answer.