FAQs
Got questions about Pathos X and DecodifyAI? Find out how they protect people in toxic work environments, decode behavior, and transform workplace dynamics.
General Information
What is DecodifyAI?
DecodifyAI is a pioneering discourse analysis tool that analyzes interpersonal communication, identifying both prosocial behaviors like collaboration and support, and dissocial behaviors such as undermining and manipulation.
Users see the motivations behind words and learn how to recognize individual tendencies by analyzing dimensions such as power dynamics, emotional empathy, humility, and more.
DecodifyAI helps people protect their hard-earned careers by staying ahead of conflicts, biases, and subtle (and not so subtle) manipulations.
What kind of communication can I analyze?
Any type of human expression or interaction can be analyzed, from workplace discussions to heated political debates, celebrity feuds, and group rivalries, including:
- Meetings
- Emails
- Chat logs
- Impromptu conversations
- Livestreams
- Podcasts
- Forum threads
- Skeets and Tweets
Who is DecodifyAI designed for?
DecodifyAI is designed for professionals in the workplace, however it's useful for anyone who wants to understand human behavior in general, or gain insight into specific encounters.
It's also beneficial to journalists, researchers, and influencers interested in analyzing social dynamics to add additional dimensions to their work.
How does DecodifyAI work?
prosocial
Prosocial expressions:
- Emotional Empathy
- Compassion / Helping / Support
- Kindness
- Fairness / Reciprocity / Justice
- Boundary Recognition
- Honesty / Candor / Authenticity
- Respectfulness / Decency
- Humility
and dissocial
Dissocial expressions:
- Manipulation
- Emotional Fuel Harvesting
- Contempt
- Entitlement
- Superiority
- Hostility
- Boundary Violation
- Intimidation / Coercion
- Cruelty
contributions.
Using advanced natural language processing algorithms DecodifyAI generates detailed reports that help identify problematic behaviors and provides objective, data-driven insights into your interactions.
Want a deeper understanding of how DecodifyAI works? Check out the How It Works and Example Analysis pages.
What dimensions does DecodifyAI analyze?
DecodifyAI evaluates communication for a wide range of dimensions, including:
- Assertion of control
- Bias and discrimination
When biases influence behavior, they result in discrimination β unfair treatment that limits opportunities and outcomes for certain individuals or groups.
Discrimination can also be deliberate, not just the product of unconscious biases.
- Emotional empathy
- Emotional fuel harvesting
Positive responses include attention, admiration, and praise, which validate feelings of worth, strength, or superiority.
Negative responses such as frustration, anger, and hurt demonstrate the harvester's strength, superiority, and control.
- Group dynamics
- Humility
- Manipulation (benign & malign)
Benign: The use of inconspicuous, seemingly harmless tactics to influence or control others, often with hidden self-serving intentions. These actions appear innocuous but can lead to deeper manipulation, such as the favoritism used in triangulation to create division.
Malign: Influencing others through deceitful or coercive means for selfish gain and at the expense of others' well-being.
- Power dynamics
- Rivalry
- Toxicity
Can I use DecodifyAI outside of work?
Yes. All types of relationships can be analyzed. Simply choose the appropriate Relationship Context option:
Relationship Context: Allows DecodifyAI to frame its analysis according to the nature of the relationship.
Relationship Depth: Ensures DecodifyAI understands the familiarity and emotional context between participants.
Relationship Hierarchy: Enables DecodifyAI to interpret the ways in which power is distributed and exercised.
Communication Type: Helps DecodifyAI tailor its analysis to the format of the conversation.
What does Pathos X mean?
Pathos X stands for pathos spectrum, which refers to the range of the human capacity for emotional empathy. The word pathos (from Greek: ΟάθοΟ) is a synonym for emotional empathy. The pathos spectrum consists of three segments:
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βOn one end are other-focused people, who are acutely sensitive to the feelings and needs of others but may neglect their own well-being
βOn the opposite end are self-focused people, who prioritize self-interest and operate from a defensive stance, constantly assessing their environment for threats
βIn the middle are balanced-focus people, who are able to care for others while also protecting themselves
Our position on the pathos spectrum is the key determinant of our behavior, driving how we perceive, interpret, and interact with the world and those around us.
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This concept is key to behavioral literacy, a skill that allows people to understand behavior and interpret social dynamics with a high degree of accuracy. For more insights, sign up for our newsletter and join the Pathos X #freefromharm π mission.
Does Pathos X provide enterprise products?
Yes. The ultimate goal of Pathos X is to make every workplace free from harm. The most scalable way of achieving this goal is to provide cultural support services directly to forward-thinking, ethical organizations.
The Pathos X enterprise offerings include both internal-organization and customer-facing cultural support:
βOrganizations aiming to optimize their culture have the option to provide low-cost, individual subscriptions to their employees, or to create a custom solution tailored to their values, principles, and code of conduct.
βBusinesses aiming to enhance their social media platforms, collaboration tools, or community-driven apps can streamline moderation efforts by automatically detecting and flagging dissocial behavior, reducing manual oversight while fostering healthier interactions.
Subscription Plans and Features
What subscription plans are available?
DecodifyAI offers several subscription plans for individuals, each catering to different needs and environments:
What features does each plan include?
All plans include these features:
βCapture and transcribe interactions instantly with a single button press β perfect for impromptu meetings, calls, and conversations. Additional options include file upload and text input. The mobile app and browser extension are coming soon!
βUnbiased, thorough assessments with objective analysis of prosocial and dissocial contributions.
ββUnlimited lifetime storage of interactions and analyses for future reference.
βTag and organize analyses for quick, hassle-free access anytime.β
Plan specific features:
Navigator Plan: Includes 100 credits for ~10 analyses per month.
Protector Plan: Includes 200 credits for ~20 analyses per month, plus curated behavioral literacy content to help you navigate your professional relationships with confidence.
Defender Plan: Includes 500 credits for ~50 analyses per month, plus advanced re-analysis features to track how relationships are changing over time, and curated content.
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Super User Plan: Includes 1000 credits for ~100 analyses per month, plus copyright ownership of analyses, curated content, and re-analysis features.
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What file upload formats are supported?
DecodifyAI supports text, audio, and video file formats including:
.txt
.doc
.docx
.pdf
.wav
.mp3
.mp4
Is my data secure?
Yes. Data security is a top priority for Pathos X. All data is encrypted and stored securely by AWS. We adhere to strict data privacy and security policies to ensure your information is safe. Pathos X does not, and will never utilize user data for LLM training.
Can I integrate DecodifyAI with other tools?
Yes. Pathos X offers integration capabilities with popular tools and platforms via API. This allows you to seamlessly incorporate DecodifyAI's analysis into your existing applications and workflows.
How DecodifyAI Can Help You
How can DecodifyAI assist in largely supportive workplaces?
Even in a supportive environment, DecodifyAI helps people deepen their emotional intelligence and stay ahead of potential issues by giving them the ability to interpret underlying intentions, preventing small problems from becoming bigger obstacles.
How does DecodifyAI help in moderately supportive work environments?
In moderately supportive environments DecodifyAI helps people identify dissocial behaviors like manipulation and subtle undermining, which may otherwise go unnoticed. These insights help you effectively navigate power dynamics, build credibility, and advance your career.
How does DecodifyAI protect people in toxic work environments?
For people in unsupportive or toxic work environments, DecodifyAI is a lifeline. It helps them navigate dangerous power dynamics, protect themselves from devaluation, and document interactions for the future. By analyzing and documenting ongoing toxic interactions, people can act before their hard-earned career is sabotaged.
Career Protection and Growth
How can DecodifyAI protect your career?
DecodifyAI helps you stay ahead of work politics by identifying who holds influence, which behaviors and traits are rewarded and punished (which informs you to what the actual values are, as opposed to professed values), and who controls access to key resources. With these insights, you can make informed decisions about how to navigate power dynamics, avoid becoming a target, and protect your career path.
How does DecodifyAI help protect you by documenting interactions?
With its advanced language pattern analysis capability, DecodifyAI empowers people to document their interactions and retain them as a CYA - there if needed as a form of insurance.
These transcriptions and analyses serve as a valuable record of behavior patterns, helping people safeguard their reputation and professional future. You've worked SO hard to build your career, shouldn't you be protecting it?
Transcribing Interactions
Disclaimer: The information in this FAQ does not constitute legal advice. Laws around transcription, consent, and workplace privacy vary by jurisdiction, and each individual is responsible for understanding the legal requirements specific to their location.
While transparency is the best practice in most situations, there may be additional protections for employees in hostile workplaces under whistleblower laws or the National Labor Relations Act. Always verify the specific laws for your state and consult legal counsel if necessary.
Is it legal for me to transcribe my workplace interactions?
Yes. As an employee, transcribing workplace conversations is both legal and a federally protected right, however you should be aware of privacy and consent concerns. If the conversation includes sensitive content like confidential HR discussions consent may be needed in two-party states.
When do I need consent?
In many cases, transcription doesn't require explicit consent. However, depending on your location and the expectation of privacy it may be necessary to inform other participants.
In certain contexts, such as meetings or public discussions, transcription is often common practice (e.g., meeting notes). In these cases there isn't an expectation of privacy so consent may not be needed.
Additionally, in some cases whistleblower protections may allow you to transcribe without needing consent. Always review your state's laws, as well as any relevant workplace policies, and ensure you handle information responsibly.
What is the difference between one-party and two-party consent states?
In one-party consent states, you can transcribe a conversation without consent if you are part of the conversation.
In two-party consent states, both parties must agree to the transcription if there is the expectation of privacy because the conversation involves private or sensitive topics.
What are the two-party consent states?
California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Washington (updated November 2024)
What's the best way to ask for consent?
Requesting consent to transcribe a workplace conversation can be done discreetly and professionally without discomfort. It's best to ask for consent at the start of a conversation. Here are a few phrasing options to make the request feel natural:
During a meeting setup: "Hey, I'll be transcribing this conversation to help keep track of everything. Does that work for everyone?"
In a larger group setting: "For accuracy, I plan to transcribe our discussion. Let me know if there are any concerns."
Situations where it's common practice: "Okay to transcribe?"
By making the request in a matter-of-fact way and aligning it with the benefits of transcription (e.g., accuracy, record-keeping), you can obtain consent without drawing unnecessary attention to the process.
Can my employer prevent me from transcribing workplace conversations?
No. While some employers may have policies that regulate the documentation of workplace conversations, especially in relation to sensitive discussions, your right to transcribe is protected by U.S. federal law in hostile environments. Make sure to review your workplace's policies on documenting conversations, and if you are transcribing in good faith for legitimate reasons, your employer cannot lawfully prevent it.
Can I use transcriptions as evidence?
Yes. Transcription can serve as documentation for workplace issues like discrimination and misconduct. Under whistleblower laws and the National Labor Relations Act, employees have the right to gather evidence of hostile working conditions, including through transcription.
U.S. federal protections override state laws allowing employees documenting hostile workplaces to transcribe without notifying others. However, be sure to understand the nuances of your local laws and consult legal counsel when necessary.
Accountability Mechanisms
and #freefromharm π
How does DecodifyAI protect people in harmful environments?
DecodifyAI is a powerful and effective accountability mechanism. Individuals now have the ability to protect themselves from toxic work environments by documenting and analyzing their interactions.
This new class of AI discourse analysis tools will disrupt today's status quo, forcing full attention be paid to problems that may have previously been dismissed with ineffectual action. Long term, the large-scale risk of reputational damage and legal consequences will drive changes in corporate policies and practices.
What is the #freefromharm π mission?
The free from harm mission is the guiding principle of Pathos X, with the goal of ensuring:
EVERY WORKPLACE, FREE FROM HARM
This mission focuses on creating safe work environments where devaluing behaviors, such as discrimination, harassment, and coercion, are not tolerated.
Through resources like DecodifyAI, Pathos X empowers individuals to recognize and document dissocial behavior.Β The mission emphasizes that every workplace must be:
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1. Safe
2. Equipped with effective accountability mechanisms, ideally provided internally by the organization, or when necessary, provided externally by Pathos X
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By ensuring toxic behavior is quickly noticed and effectively addressed,Β Pathos X aims to reshape organizational culture. If you agreeΒ that every workplace should be free from harm, please join usΒ in solidarity by:
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thank β‘ you