Methodology
How we assess AI companies. Every claim is sourced. Every grade is explained.
Our Mission
Behind the AI is an independent transparency platform. We assess major AI companies across five pillars using only published, verifiable sources. We have no advertising, no sponsorships, and no affiliate relationships with any company we assess. Our goal is to help users make informed decisions about the AI tools they depend on.
Five Assessment Pillars
Each provider is scored 1–5 across five pillars. Scores reflect current, verifiable practices — not promises or intentions.
How the company collects, stores, shares, and uses your data. Whether training on user conversations is opt-in or opt-out. Third-party data sharing practices.
Transparency about funding sources, investor relationships, and financial dependencies. Whether investors create conflicts of interest or dependency loops.
Active military contracts, government surveillance partnerships, and the company's stated policy on weapons and defense use of their technology.
Whether model weights, training data, and architecture details are disclosed. Transparency about capabilities, limitations, and safety evaluations.
User rights including data deletion, export, opt-out of training, appeal processes, and clear terms of service. Accessibility and equitable access.
Grade System
Pillar scores are combined into an overall traffic-light grade. The grade reflects the totality of a company's practices, not a simple average.
Meets transparency standards across most categories. Demonstrates commitment to user rights.
Mixed record. Some positive practices alongside significant concerns.
Fails transparency standards in multiple critical areas. Users should understand the risks.
Data Confidence
Not all claims carry the same evidentiary weight. Each assessment includes a confidence rating reflecting the quality and completeness of available sources.
Based on published contracts, SEC filings, company disclosures, and investigative reporting.
Based on press reporting and partial disclosures. Some claims unverified by primary sources.
Limited public information available. Assessment based on available evidence, which may be incomplete.
Sources
Every factual claim in an assessment links to a published source. Sources include SEC filings, investigative journalism (NPR, Axios, CNBC, TechCrunch), company disclosures, court documents, and employee statements. Each provider page includes a full source list with outlet, date, and access date.
Company Response Protocol
Before publishing, we contact every assessed company via their official press or communications channels. We provide the assessment summary and invite corrections or clarifications. Each provider page notes when the company was contacted, via what method, and whether they responded. Company responses are included in the assessment when provided.
Updates & Corrections
Assessments are updated when material changes occur — new funding rounds, policy reversals, military contracts, or legal rulings. Each assessment shows a "last reviewed" date. We welcome corrections at corrections@behindtheai.org.