REDISCOVERTHE JOY OFLEARNING
We believe AI should make learning more enjoyable, not replace the learning experience itself.
"AI has helped us accomplish incredible things. But sometimes, in our rush to get answers, we forget something important: the joy of discovery itself."
Remember the feeling of flipping through an encyclopedia, not looking for anything in particular, and stumbling upon something fascinating? That moment when curiosity led you down an unexpected path, and you learned something you never knew you wanted to know?
Growing up, I remember spending hours with the World Book Encyclopedia - those beautiful burgundy volumes lined up on the shelf. I'd pull one down looking for one thing and end up somewhere completely different. The human body section was magical - those cellophane overlay pages where you could peel back the skin to see the muscles, then the organs, then the skeleton. I'd flip through learning about ancient civilizations when I'd originally searched for dinosaurs, or discovering how bridges are built while researching a river for a school project. That wasn't a bug. That was incidental learning - the magic that happens when we're not just trying to get an answer, but actually exploring.
Today, AI can instantly answer almost any question. That's genuinely amazing. But there's a risk: when we always go straight to the answer, we miss the journey. We don't develop the intuition, the connections, the understanding that comes from actually engaging with material.
We've seen it happen. Students who can prompt an AI perfectly but struggle when they need to think through a problem themselves. Professionals who rely so heavily on AI assistance that they lose confidence in their own knowledge. The tools are powerful, but they can become a crutch if we're not careful.
That's why we built Fidus. Not to give you answers, but to help you find the joy in discovering them yourself.
Fidus is an AI tutor, yes. But it's designed to work with you, not for you. When you upload a document, we don't just summarize it and hand you bullet points. We create interactive mindmaps that let you explore connections. We generate flashcards that help you build lasting memory through spaced repetition. We give you a tutor who explains concepts and asks you questions back - because real learning is a conversation, not a download.
We're AI-first. We believe in the incredible potential of these tools. But we also believe that the goal of learning isn't just to acquire information - it's to grow, to become capable, to develop the confidence that comes from truly understanding something.
Whether you're studying for an exam, diving into a new subject for work, or just curious about how something works - we want to help you experience that feeling again. That spark when something clicks. That satisfaction of actually getting it.
Learning should feel like an adventure, not a chore. Let's rediscover that together.
Our Values
Understanding Over Answers
We design our tools to help you build genuine comprehension, not just retrieve information. The goal is lasting knowledge, not quick fixes.
Privacy is Non-Negotiable
Your learning journey is personal. We don't track, sell, or exploit your data. Our Chrome extension runs entirely on your device.
Learning Should Be Joyful
Curiosity is natural. We're building tools that make studying feel less like a chore and more like an exploration.
Accessible to Everyone
Education shouldn't be gatekept by expensive subscriptions. Our core tools are free and always will be.
AI as a Partner
We use AI to enhance your capabilities, not replace them. Fidus works with you, building your confidence and independence.
Honest & Transparent
We're upfront about what our tools can and can't do. AI isn't magic - it's a powerful assistant with limitations.
Make learningan adventure
We're building AI tools that help you engage deeply with any material - whether it's for school, work, or pure curiosity. Tools that respect your intelligence and help you become a more capable, confident learner.
Fidus isn't about doing the work for you. It's about making the work more rewarding.
Students
Master your coursework
Researchers
Explore new fields
Professionals
Stay sharp & grow
Curious Minds
Learn for the joy of it
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you want to know about Fidus
Our Chrome extension is completely free - it runs locally on your device with no usage limits. For the web app, we offer three plans: BYOK (Bring Your Own Key) at $4.99/month where you use your own API key, plus Pro and Ultra plans with included AI credits. We believe in transparent pricing with no hidden costs.
Privacy is fundamental to our design. For our Chrome extension, all AI processing happens locally on your device using WebGPU technology - your data never leaves your browser. For our web app, we use AI to process your documents but don't store or train on your content. We don't require accounts, don't track your activity, and don't sell data. Ever.
While ChatGPT and similar tools are powerful, they're designed for general conversation. Fidus is purpose-built for learning. We create structured study materials like mindmaps, flashcards with spaced repetition, and presentations - not just chat responses. Our Chrome extension runs 100% locally for complete privacy. And we're focused on helping you actually understand and retain information, not just get quick answers.
No. You can start using Fidus immediately without signing up. We believe in reducing friction to learning. Account creation is optional and only needed if you want to save documents to your library or sync across devices.
Fidus works with PDF documents - textbooks, research papers, lecture notes, reports, and more. We use visual AI to read your documents like a human would, preserving layout and automatically detecting figures, charts, and diagrams.
We use Google's Gemini AI models, which are among the most capable available. However, AI isn't perfect. We encourage you to verify important information and use Fidus as a study companion, not a replacement for critical thinking. The AI tutor is there to help explain concepts and answer questions, but your own understanding is what matters most.
Our Chrome extension works offline after the initial model download - that's the benefit of local AI processing. The web app requires an internet connection for AI features, but you can still view and interact with previously processed documents offline.
Fidus is built by CORDOC LLC, a small team passionate about education and technology. We started this project because we believe AI should make learning more enjoyable, not replace the learning experience itself. We're based in Raleigh, NC and are committed to building tools that respect both your privacy and your intelligence.
The best way to support us is to use Fidus and share it with others who might benefit. If you'd like to contribute financially, we have a Buy Me a Coffee page. Your support helps us keep Fidus free and continuously improving.
We'd love to hear from you! Email us at contact@fidus.im with any feedback, bug reports, or feature requests. We read every message and actively incorporate user feedback into our development.