tertiusWebsite, tester account, and sign-in
When you submit the access form, Tertius processes the email address, selected intent (tester access or release updates), the source label used to understand where the signup came from, basic request information needed to protect the form, and a hidden anti-bot field. For tester access, the service generates a short-lived private installer link and marks that address as eligible for a tester account. The address is also retained for important build notices and the preference you selected.
When you sign in from the desktop, Tertius checks whether the email has tester access and sends a six-digit code by email. Code challenges, short-lived access sessions, refresh sessions, attempt counters, and anti-abuse limits are managed by the service. The protected refresh credential is stored through Windows Credential Manager on the tester’s computer.
Tertius says it will not sell submitted email addresses or use tester access as a general weekly newsletter subscription. Release messages should include a way to unsubscribe. Hosting, email delivery, database, and file-storage providers may process the minimum information required to provide those services.
Microphone capture
The microphone activates when you start a recording and after Windows grants permission. When capture is submitted, the desktop sends recorded audio through the authenticated Tertius service for OpenAI transcription. It is not an offline speech recognizer.
Imported audio and video
The original file remains in the folder you selected. Tertius validates the media and extracts a temporary audio copy on the Windows computer. It sends bounded audio segments through the managed service for transcription and removes temporary files after processing or cleanup. The statement “the source video is not uploaded as a whole” does not mean no audio leaves the device.
Transcript and outcome processing
After transcription, the Tertius service sends transcript text and server-controlled outcome instructions to OpenAI for cleanup and transformation. The result may include a clean transcript, meeting notes, actions, a summary, email, or another selected mode. Review OpenAI’s current API data controls and terms for information about its handling of API requests.
Service credentials and usage controls
Testers do not provide an OpenAI API key. Tertius stores its OpenAI credential only on the server; it is not embedded in the Windows executable or returned to the desktop. The service validates requests and applies Redis-backed monthly allowances, request limits, concurrency controls, and usage accounting to each authenticated tester account.
The current free allowance includes 120 transcription minutes per month plus managed outcome processing. Usage records include quantities needed to enforce those limits, such as audio duration, audio bytes, processed characters, request counts, and provider token counts. Limits may change during the beta.
Trail history and settings
If Trail history is enabled, Tertius stores transcript text, the final outcome, and local metadata on the computer. It does not copy the original audio or video into Trail. Application settings, playbooks, lexicon entries, and related preferences are also stored locally. Exported files go wherever the user chooses to save them.
Choices and deletion
- Choose whether Trail history is enabled and delete local history from the application when available.
- Remove exported files from the location where you saved them.
- Sign out to end the current tester session and remove protected account credentials from the desktop.
- Unsubscribe from release notices using the link in a message.
- Do not record or import material unless you have the right and consent to process it.
Security and limitations
No storage or transmission method is risk-free. The current tester installer is not yet code-signed and Windows may display a SmartScreen warning. The beta is not represented as compliant with any specific regulated-industry standard. Organizations should complete their own legal, security, vendor, and data-retention review before use.
Do not use Tertius for highly sensitive, regulated, or confidential recordings unless the managed Tertius service, OpenAI processing, account controls, and beta security posture fit your obligations.
Policy changes
This summary will change as account behavior, allowances, payments, or service providers change. Material changes should be reflected by the updated date at the top of this page. Continued use after an update is subject to the then-current terms.