AI Information & Transparency

K9ScanAI combines computer vision, deep learning, and extensive cynological databases to celebrate dogs, help owners understand breed characteristics, and support everyday pet care. We believe transparency regarding artificial intelligence is vital for responsible pet ownership.

This document details how our 625-breed classifier operates, what inputs are analyzed, why visual classification cannot replace genetic testing, and how user privacy is maintained.

Artificial intelligence powers several key capabilities within K9ScanAI:

1. Multi-Class Canine Breed Classification: Our computer vision pipeline evaluates canine photographs against a curated database of 625 breeds, international varieties, and landraces recognized by global kennel registries.

1. Morphological Reasoning & Trait Matching: The model extracts key morphological features—skull shape (brachycephalic, mesocephalic, dolichocephalic), ear carriage (erect, drop, rose, button), coat texture (smooth, wire, curly, double-coat), color patterns, and tail structure.

1. Mixed-Breed Prediction & Confidence Breakdown: For dogs exhibiting mixed ancestry, the system generates ranked confidence percentages and identifies likely contributing breed lineages.

1. "Ask AI Vet & Cynologist" Conversational Assistant: A specialized AI assistant that answers questions about dog behavior, breed exercise needs, training strategies, and general wellness.

Inputs Processed:

• Photographs of dogs captured via camera or selected from camera roll.
• User queries regarding behavior, training, exercise, and care.
• Dog profile metrics entered in "My Pack" (age, weight, activity level, breed notes).

Architecture & Privacy Protection:

• Secure Application Architecture: All AI interactions route through authenticated, secure Axxa Media application services. Client applications never contain third-party service credentials.
• Provider Neutrality & Multi-Vendor Infrastructure: Multimodal recognition systems and machine learning models operate via external processing infrastructure and third-party AI technology services. Axxa Media does not operate exclusively with any single AI provider and may incorporate, update, or alternate between external AI providers and models over time to optimize recognition precision and service resilience.
• Zero Model Training on User Photos: Under commercial enterprise terms, user dog photos, queries, and profile data are processed statelessly and are NOT used to train, fine-tune, or improve public foundation models. Your dog photographs and private pack records remain your own.

Users must understand the biological distinction between visual morphology and genetic ancestry:

1. Phenotype vs. Genotype: A mixed-breed dog may inherit physical traits (phenotype) from one breed that completely mask the genetic presence (genotype) of its other ancestral breeds.
2. Purebred Lookalikes: Two mixed-breed dogs can produce offspring that visually resemble a purebred Labrador or Terrier without possessing significant genetic heritage of that breed.
3. DNA Testing Superiority: True ancestry, parentage verification, and hereditary disease screening require biological laboratory DNA testing (blood or cheek swab). K9ScanAI cannot and does not provide genetic testing.

K9ScanAI is an educational companion. It cannot examine a physical dog, take vital signs, or perform bloodwork:

• Always Consult a Licensed Vet: Never diagnose or treat an illness based on AI advice.
• Emergency Toxicities: In suspected poisonings (chocolate, xylitol, grapes), contact emergency veterinary services immediately.
• Dog Behavior: Never rely on breed generalizations to predict individual aggression or bite risk; always practice responsible dog handling.

We continuously refine our 625-breed classifier and canine knowledge systems. If you observe an erroneous breed prediction or anomalous AI output, please report it via the in-app "Refine Scan" feature or email [email protected] with the photo and breed scan identifier.

For account support, credential inquiries, or suspected unauthorized access, contact Account Support & Security at [email protected].