The disclosure matrix
One row per bot, one column per question a careful buyer asks. A filled circle means the bot states it in plain words on its own pages. Nothing here measures how well a bot works.
| Bot (example) | Fees in one place | Data sources named | Risks stated | Custody explained | Plain terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bot Aexample, support assistant | Stated | Stated | Partly | Stated | Stated |
| Bot Bexample, scheduling agent | Not stated | Partly | Not stated | Partly | Stated |
| Bot Cexample, research helper | Stated | Not stated | Stated | Not stated | Partly |
| Bot Dexample, automation tool | Partly | Stated | Stated | Stated | Not stated |
StatedPartlyNot stated
Example data for a design. Bots A to D are invented and no real product is meant.
01 FEES
What does it cost to use?
Subscription, per-use charges, and any cut taken from money that moves through it, on one page.
02 DATA
What does it learn from?
Where its information comes from, and what happens to what you give it.
03 LIMITS
What does it say it cannot do?
A bot that lists its limits is easier to judge than one that lists only strengths.
A bot that promises a return has told you the most important thing about itself.
Red flags we would mark
Regulators warn about these. The CFTC lists guaranteed-return AI trading bot claims among fraud red flags in release 8854-24 (January 2024).
- Promises of income, profit or returns of any size
- A secret strategy that cannot be described
- Pressure to sign up or deposit quickly
- Results shown without the method behind them
- Rewards for bringing in other people