Privacy Policy

AI Speed Index
Effective date: October 1, 2026
Last updated: October 1, 2026

The short version

AI Speed Index is an independent AI testing publication. We test AI models, publish the results, and try to keep the site fast and readable.

We collect as little personal information as possible. We use privacy-respecting analytics. We do not sell your data. We do not run invasive ad-tech. If you sign up for our newsletter, we use your email only to send you the newsletter. If you email us, we read it and reply.

The long version is below. It is written in plain English on purpose. If something is unclear, email us and we will fix the wording.

1. Who we are

AI Speed Index is an independent publication operated by Jordan Lee, based in Austin, Texas, United States.

• Website: speedindex.com

• Privacy contact: [email protected]

• Mailing address: Available on request

Throughout this policy, "AI Speed Index," "we," "us," and "our" refer to the publication and its operator. "You" refers to anyone visiting speedindex.com or interacting with us.

We are not a model provider, an API vendor, or a data broker. We do not have a parent company feeding us user data. We are a small independent site.

2. Information we collect

We collect three kinds of information:

A. Information you give us directly

• Email address — if you subscribe to our newsletter.

• Name — only if you choose to provide it when subscribing or contacting us.

• Message contents — if you email us, use a contact form, or reply to a newsletter.

• Payment information — we do not currently sell anything. If we ever add a paid product, payment details will be handled by a third-party processor and we will update this policy before that happens.

B. Information collected automatically

When you visit the site, standard technical information is logged by our hosting provider and analytics:

• IP address (often truncated or anonymized — see Section 5)

• Browser type and version

• Operating system

• Device type

• Referring URL

• Pages viewed and time on page

• Approximate location derived from IP (country and region level, not your street)

• Date and time of visit

We use this to understand what content is useful, fix broken pages, and keep the site fast.

C. Information we do not collect

We do not knowingly collect:

• Government ID numbers

• Precise geolocation

• Biometric data

• Health information

• Financial account details

• Data from children under 13

• Any "special category" data under GDPR

If you are a model provider or PR person emailing us, we keep your email like any other business correspondence. We do not treat it as a data set.

3. How we collect information

We collect information through:

• Direct submissions — newsletter signup forms, contact forms, email.

• Cookies and similar technologies — see Section 4.

• Server logs — generated automatically by our hosting provider.

• Analytics tools — see Section 5.

• Third-party embeds — for example, if we embed a YouTube video or a chart from an external service, that service may collect data under its own policy.

We do not use hidden trackers, session recording, or fingerprinting.

4. Cookies and similar technologies

We use a small number of cookies. They fall into three categories:

We do not use advertising cookies, cross-site tracking cookies, or third-party retargeting cookies.

If you are in the EU, UK, or another jurisdiction requiring consent, you will see a consent banner on your first visit. You can change your choice at any time through the cookie preferences link in the footer.

You can also block or delete cookies through your browser settings. Blocking essential cookies may break parts of the site.

5. Analytics

We use privacy-respecting analytics to understand traffic. Our analytics setup is designed to avoid collecting personal data:

• IP addresses are anonymized or truncated before storage.

• We do not track you across other websites.

• We do not build user profiles.

• We do not sell or share analytics data with advertisers.

• Data is reported in aggregate (for example: "this article got 4,200 views from the U.S. last week").

We may use a self-hosted or privacy-focused analytics provider. The specific provider is listed in the cookie preferences panel and updated when it changes.

If you use Do Not Track (DNT) or Global Privacy Control (GPC), we honor it where technically feasible.

6. Email newsletters

If you subscribe to the AI Speed Index newsletter:

• We collect your email address and, optionally, your first name.

• We use a third-party email service provider to send the newsletter and manage the list.

• You can unsubscribe at any time using the link in every email.

• We do not sell, rent, or share your email address with advertisers or model providers.

• We do not add you to any list you did not ask for.

• We may send occasional service emails (for example, if the newsletter moves to a new provider). These are rare and not marketing.

Newsletter open and click data may be collected by our email provider in aggregate so we can tell which issues are useful. You can opt out of open tracking by disabling image loading in your email client.

7. How we use information

We use the information we collect to:

• Operate and maintain the site.

• Publish tests, articles, and the Fast Model Index.

• Send the newsletter you asked for.

• Respond to your emails and questions.

• Understand which content is useful and which is not.

• Detect and prevent abuse, spam, and security issues.

• Comply with legal obligations.

• Improve the site's speed, accessibility, and reliability.

We do not use your information to:

• Sell you to advertisers.

• Build shadow profiles.

• Train AI models on your personal data.

• Make automated decisions that have legal or significant effects on you.

• Send you unrelated marketing.

8. How we share information

We share information only in these limited cases:

• Service providers — hosting, analytics, email delivery, and security providers who process data on our behalf and are bound by contract to protect it.

• Legal requirements — if required by law, subpoena, or court order, or to protect the rights, safety, and property of AI Speed Index, our readers, or the public.

• Business transfer — if AI Speed Index is ever sold, merged, or transferred, subscriber and site data may transfer as part of that deal. We will notify readers before that happens and update this policy.

• With your consent — if you explicitly ask us to share something.

We do not sell personal information. We do not share personal information with model providers, advertisers, or data brokers.

9. Third-party services

The site relies on a small number of third parties. Each has its own privacy policy:

• Hosting provider — serves the site and keeps server logs.

• Analytics provider — privacy-focused, aggregate reporting.

• Email service provider — delivers the newsletter.

• Embedded content — if we embed a chart, video, or social post, that platform may collect data. We try to use privacy-friendly embeds (for example, YouTube's nocookie mode) where possible.

We choose providers that meet reasonable privacy standards. We do not control their internal practices. If a provider changes its policy in a way that affects you, we will update this page.

10. Affiliate links, sponsorships, and independence

AI Speed Index is independent. Our testing results are not for sale.

• Some outbound links to model providers or tools may be affiliate links. If you click one and sign up, we may earn a commission. This never changes our test results, rankings, or editorial conclusions.

• Sponsored content, if we ever publish it, will be clearly labeled as sponsored at the top of the article.

• When a provider supplies free API credits, early access, or review access, we disclose it in the article's testing notes.

• We do not accept payment to change a score, hide a failure, or remove a limitation.

Affiliate and sponsorship partners do not receive your personal information from us. If you click an affiliate link, the destination site's privacy policy applies.

11. Data retention

We keep data only as long as it is useful:

• Newsletter email addresses — until you unsubscribe, plus a short suppression record so we do not accidentally re-add you.

• Contact emails — up to 24 months, unless the conversation is ongoing or legally relevant.

• Server logs — typically 30 to 90 days, depending on the hosting provider.

• Analytics data — aggregate data may be kept indefinitely; identifiable data is minimized or deleted as soon as practical.

• Cookie data — per the expiration shown in your cookie preferences.

If you ask us to delete your data, we will do so unless we are legally required to keep it.

12. Security

We take reasonable steps to protect the information we hold:

• HTTPS across the entire site.

• Access controls on internal systems.

• Minimal data collection by design.

• Reputable service providers with their own security programs.

No system is perfectly secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security, and we will not pretend otherwise. If a breach affects your personal information, we will notify you and the relevant authorities as required by law.

13. Your privacy rights

Depending on where you live, you may have specific legal rights. We honor these regardless of where you are, as a matter of practice.

For everyone

You can email [email protected] to:

• Ask what personal information we hold about you.

• Ask us to correct it.

• Ask us to delete it.

• Ask us to stop using it for a specific purpose.

• Withdraw consent for analytics or newsletter emails.

• Ask a question about this policy.

We will respond within 30 days. We may need to verify your identity before acting on a request. We will not charge you for a reasonable request.

For California residents (CCPA/CPRA)

You have the right to:

• Know what personal information we collect, use, and share.

• Request deletion of your personal information.

• Correct inaccurate personal information.

• Opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information. We do not sell or share personal information as defined by the CCPA.

• Limit the use of sensitive personal information. We do not collect sensitive personal information.

• Not be discriminated against for exercising your rights.

To exercise these rights, email [email protected] with "California Privacy Request" in the subject line.

For EU, UK, and Swiss residents (GDPR/UK GDPR)

You have the right to:

• Access your personal data.

• Rectify inaccurate data.

• Erase your data ("right to be forgotten").

• Restrict or object to processing.

• Data portability.

• Withdraw consent at any time.

• Lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

Our legal bases for processing are:

• Consent — for analytics cookies and newsletter emails.

• Legitimate interest — for site security, abuse prevention, and basic site operation.

• Legal obligation — where required by law.

For other U.S. states

If you live in a state with a comprehensive privacy law (for example, Virginia, Colorado, Connecticut, Utah, Texas, Oregon, Montana, and others), you have similar rights to access, correct, delete, and opt out. Email us and we will handle your request under the applicable law.

14. International visitors

AI Speed Index is operated from the United States. If you visit from outside the U.S., your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the U.S. or in the country of our service providers.

Where required, we use appropriate safeguards for international transfers, such as standard contractual clauses with our service providers.

By using the site, you understand that your information may be processed in countries with different privacy laws than your own.

15. Children's privacy

AI Speed Index is not directed at children under 13 (or under 16 in some jurisdictions). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children.

If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, email [email protected] and we will delete it promptly.

16. Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control

We honor Do Not Track (DNT) and Global Privacy Control (GPC) signals where technically feasible. When we detect these signals, we disable non-essential analytics and tracking.

Because we do not use advertising trackers or sell data, the practical effect is small — but we respect the signal.

17. Changes to this policy

We may update this policy as the site changes. When we do:

• The "Last updated" date at the top will change.

• Material changes will be announced on the site or in the newsletter.

• Continued use of the site after an update means you accept the revised policy.

If we ever make a change that significantly affects your rights, we will ask for fresh consent where required.

18. Contact

Questions, corrections, or privacy requests:

Email: [email protected]
Subject line for legal requests: "Privacy Request — [your jurisdiction]"

We are a small independent site. A real person reads every message. We will not route you through a chatbot.

AI Speed Index — Fast AI models, measured.
We measure models, not readers.