Benchling Voice Policy
This Benchling Voice Policy ("Voice Policy") applies to the real-time, speech-based feature of the Benchling Chat agent (“Voice”). The Voice Policy explains how Benchling and its third-party AI provider treat your audio data, and details your responsibilities when using Voice.
By starting a Voice session, you acknowledge that you have read this Voice Policy in its entirety and agree to comply with the responsibilities it describes, including your responsibility for obtaining consent from bystanders as described in Section 5.
Additionally, please note that Benchling’s use and processing of personal information is further described in the Privacy Policy.
1. How This Voice Policy Applies
1.1 When this Voice Policy applies to you. This Voice Policy applies with respect to any and all of your Voice sessions.
1.2 Scientific and professional use. Voice is offered for use in the course of your work, not for personal or household purposes. By using Voice, you confirm that you are using it for scientific and professional purposes. Please note that Voice and Chat are not intended to be general-purpose AI chatbots/agents, even if they may sometimes attempt to offer responses to non-scientific questions.
1.3 Eligibility. You must be at least 18 years old, or over the age of majority in your jurisdiction, to use Voice. You may not access or use Voice if you are located in, ordinarily reside in, or are accessing Voice from, a jurisdiction subject to comprehensive U.S. sanctions or embargo, or if you are barred from receiving Benchling's services, including Voice, under applicable law. Benchling may geographically restrict availability of Voice. Benchling may condition, suspend, or disable access to Voice at its discretion.
2. Your Consent to Use of Your Audio
Each time you start a Voice session, you consent to:
The capture and transmission of your audio as "Live Audio Packets" (a real-time stream, not a saved audio file or recording), to our third-party AI provider.
The processing of your audio inputs by our third-party AI provider during the Voice session, so that the agent can understand and respond to what you are asking it to do.
The transcription of your audio and the agent’s spoken replies into text (a "Transcript").
The storage of the Transcript by Benchling as part of your Chat history, linked to your account.
3. How Your Audio and Transcript Data Is Handled
Live Audio Packets are not stored by Benchling. They stream directly between your device and our third-party AI provider, which powers both the real-time conversation and the transcription.
No model training. Our third-party AI provider is not permitted to use Voice data to train its models.
The Transcript is generated by our third-party AI provider, and then saved and retained by Benchling. It is returned to your browser as the session happens, displayed to you in the Chat panel, and stored in Benchling's systems.
We may be able to tell what device you are using. The same way any browser-based audio or video call can detect connected hardware, Benchling and our third-party AI provider may be able to tell what device or accessory you are using to capture your audio—for example, whether you are speaking through earphones, a headset, or your computer's built-in microphone.
4. Audio and Biometric Data
Depending on where you are located, applicable law may treat some forms of audio data as biometric or sensitive personal information. Regardless of how it is classified, Benchling does not use Voice for the purpose of identifying or authenticating you based on your audio, and does not currently generate, extract, or store a voiceprint or other biometric identifier from your Live Audio Packets.
5. Bystanders: Getting Consent From Anyone Else Present Is Your Responsibility
Voice is designed for one-on-one use between you and the Chat agent, not group conversations. By using Voice, you acknowledge and agree that you, and not Benchling, are responsible for making sure you have all consents required by law before you start a Voice session, or otherwise use Voice, in any circumstance that might capture someone else's audio—for example, a labmate, a visitor, or anyone else within range of your microphone.
You further acknowledge and agree that you, not Benchling, are responsible for complying with all recording, wiretapping, audio-capture, and privacy laws applicable to your use of Voice. You, not Benchling, are responsible for any claim arising from your failure to obtain a required bystander's consent.
6. Updates to This Voice Policy
We may update this Voice Policy from time to time. The most current version will always be available at www.benchling.com/voice-policy, with the date it was last updated. Some changes will be minor—for example, correcting a typographical error or updating a link. Others may be material—for example, a change that affects your rights or how your audio or Transcript data is handled. If we make a material change, we will notify you by placing a notice on the Benchling website, by sending you an email, and/or by other means as required by applicable law. Your continued use of Voice after a material update means the updated Voice Policy applies to you, regardless of whether we asked you for an express re-acknowledgment of the Voice Policy.
7. Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns regarding this Voice Policy, please contact us at:
Benchling, Inc. 680 Folsom St. Floor 8 San Francisco, CA 94107 privacy@benchling.com