ConsultEarth uses AI in five user-facing features and one admin tool. Every AI feature sends some data to Google's Gemini API to generate the output. None of the features is required to use the platform. This article lists each one factually so users can decide what to use and what to skip.
The AI provider
All AI features on ConsultEarth use Google's Gemini API. Most run on the current Gemini Flash model; the admin importer uses a lighter variant of it. Each AI call sends a prompt and the relevant input to Google. The response is returned to ConsultEarth and then to the user.
ConsultEarth uses the Gemini API on a paid Google Cloud plan under Google's Cloud Data Processing Addendum. Under those terms, the data sent to Gemini is not used to train Google's models, and processing is configured for data protection compliance. Users who want to read Google's terms in full can find them in Google's Cloud documentation. See our Privacy Policy for how AI fits into our wider data handling.
AI features at a glance
| Feature | Audience | What is sent to Gemini | What comes back | Stored by ConsultEarth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CV parser | New and existing experts | The CV file (PDF, up to 1 MB) | A structured draft of bio, education, work history, and suggested expertise categories | The CV file is not stored. The structured output is only saved if the expert clicks Save in the profile editor. |
| Quick Import | Clients posting a job | The pasted ToR text, or text extracted from an uploaded PDF | Structured job-post fields including title, description, suggested categories and services | The uploaded file is not stored. The structured output is only saved when the client submits the job post. |
| BidWiz | Ace, Veteran, and Enterprise experts | The RFP text plus relevant fields from the expert's profile | A proposal draft | The RFP input and the generated draft are saved in the expert's BidWiz history so the expert can revisit and edit them later. |
| Applicant Intelligence | Pro clients only | The job brief plus the expert's submitted proposal text | A fit summary, a fit score, strengths, and gaps | The generated summary is saved with the application so the same view does not regenerate on every refresh. |
| Interview Questions | Pro clients only | The job brief plus the applicant's submitted proposal | A short set of suggested interview questions | The questions are returned for the interviewer to use and are saved as part of the interview sheet when the interviewer saves it. |
| Admin AI Importer | ConsultEarth admins only | A document or text supplied by the admin | Structured job-post or taxonomy suggestions | The admin's input and output are logged for the admin who triggered the run. |
What is never sent to AI
A few categories of data are excluded from every AI prompt, even when they exist on the same record:
- Passwords, password hashes, and any session tokens
- Stripe customer IDs, payment IDs, and card data
- Private internal admin notes about a user
- Other users' private content (for example, an expert's BidWiz draft is never sent into another user's AI prompt)
AI output is a draft
In every feature listed above, what AI returns is a draft for the user to review and edit. The platform never publishes AI output automatically.
- The CV parser fills profile fields that the expert must save explicitly. Until the Save click, nothing leaves the editor.
- Quick Import pre-fills the job form. The client still submits the form after reviewing.
- BidWiz produces a proposal draft. The expert edits and submits the proposal manually.
- Applicant Intelligence surfaces a fit summary on the proposal review screen. It does not change the application's status or send any message to the expert.
- Interview Questions suggests questions for the client to ask. The client chooses which to use and can edit or ignore them.
The platform's AI features are aids, not decisions.
Using the platform without AI
No AI feature is required. Every outcome that AI helps with is also achievable manually:
- An expert can fill the profile field by field without uploading a CV.
- A client can write a job post directly without using Quick Import.
- An expert can write proposals from scratch. BidWiz free runs can be ignored.
- A Pro client can read proposals directly without generating Applicant Intelligence summaries, and can interview without generating suggested questions.
Skipping AI does not change a user's tier, monthly allowance, or access to any other feature. There is no AI-only path on ConsultEarth.
Errors and rate limits
AI endpoints are rate-limited per IP to prevent abuse. A user who hits the limit (typically 5 to 10 requests per minute, depending on the feature) sees a clear error and can retry after a short wait.
Gemini occasionally returns an error or an empty response. When this happens, the action fails cleanly with an error message and no credit, token, or free-run quota is consumed. The user can retry.
Related
- Downloading your data and deleting your account: /help/data-and-deletion
- Getting set up as an expert: /help/getting-set-up
- Posting a job: /help/posting-a-job