Our Technology: How Ask Topō Works

Powerful, Transparent, and Reliable by Design

We built Ask Topō to be the most trustworthy AI companion for your adventures. Here's a look under the hood at the technology that makes it possible.

From Your Device to a Trusted Answer

Ask Topō uses an advanced AI agent system. Instead of relying on a single source of information, our agent intelligently interprets your query and chooses from a suite of specialized tools to find the best, most up-to-date answer. This ensures you get accurate, reliable information for making important decisions in the field.

How it works: Once you join our service, you'll receive a unique email address. Simply send your questions to this address from any satellite messaging device, and our AI agent will research and respond with actionable information optimized for satellite transmission.

AI Agent Decision-Making Process

User Input

Send query via satellite messenger

Optional: Attach GPS coordinates

AI Agent Analysis

OpenAI-powered agent interprets query & location

Smart Tool Selection

Agent dynamically chooses the best tools

Live Web Search

Trail closures, fire warnings, safety alerts

Weather API

Live conditions & forecasts

Google Maps

POI, directions, transit info

Computational

Unit & GPS conversions

Information Synthesis

Agent combines data into a concise answer

Optimized Response

Answer sent to your device via satellite

Currently in Beta Testing: We're actively refining Ask Topō based on real-world feedback from adventurers like you. Beta testers enjoy full access to all premium features at no cost until 2026 while helping us build the most reliable outdoor AI companion possible.

Our Specialized Tool Suite

Live Web Search

Real-time access to national park websites, fire and weather warnings, trail closures, and official safety alerts from authoritative sources.

OpenWeatherMap API

Live weather information and detailed long-term forecasts for any location around the world, from trusted meteorological sources.

Google Maps API

Live transit information, comprehensive point of interest data, turn-by-turn directions, address search, and user reviews.

Computational Tools

Built-in tools for unit conversions, GPS coordinate transformations, currency conversions, and other field calculations.

Our Commitment to Transparency & Privacy

Trust is the foundation of Ask Topō. When you're in the backcountry, you need to be confident in your tools. That extends from the quality of the information to the privacy of your data.

Your Data is Yours, Period.

We will never share your personally identifiable information or chat logs. We do not store any PII, and your location data is used only to answer your query and is immediately discarded. Your adventures are yours to keep private.

Grounded in Facts, Not Fiction.

Our AI is designed to combat "hallucinations" by grounding its answers in real-time, factual data from trusted sources like the National Weather Service, Google Maps, and official park websites. We tell the AI where to look for answers, ensuring the information you receive is reliable.

Building a Trustworthy Companion.

Our goal is to create an AI companion you can depend on. Every feature we build and every decision we make is guided by our commitment to earning and keeping your trust.

Ready to Experience the Technology?

Join our beta program and help us refine the most advanced outdoor AI assistant ever built.