diff --git a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
index 11d407a..9c66823 100644
--- a/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
+++ b/.github/PULL_REQUEST_TEMPLATE.md
@@ -8,6 +8,11 @@ Describe what changed and why.
 - [ ] `swift build -c release`
 - [ ] Tested on a physical Busy Bar when the change affects device behavior
 
+## AI assistance
+
+List any generative AI tools used and what they assisted with, or write
+`None`:
+
 ## Device details
 
 - BarKeep version or branch:
@@ -20,6 +25,8 @@ Describe what changed and why.
 - [ ] The change is focused and does not include unrelated files.
 - [ ] Tests cover new or changed behavior.
 - [ ] Public documentation is updated when setup or behavior changed.
+- [ ] I reviewed and understand all submitted code, including AI-assisted
+      changes.
 - [ ] No passwords, tokens, private messages, signing credentials, or personal
       data are included.
 - [ ] UI changes include a screenshot or short recording.
diff --git a/CONTRIBUTING.md b/CONTRIBUTING.md
index ca512f3..a75fd14 100644
--- a/CONTRIBUTING.md
+++ b/CONTRIBUTING.md
@@ -65,6 +65,18 @@ Before opening a pull request:
 GitHub Actions runs the test suite and release build for every pull request.
 Maintainers may ask for changes before merging.
 
+## AI-assisted contributions
+
+AI-assisted contributions are welcome. If you use a generative AI tool,
+identify the tool and summarize what it assisted with in the pull-request
+description. You remain responsible for understanding and reviewing every
+submitted change, running the required tests, and confirming that the
+contribution does not include private data or code with incompatible licensing.
+
+Treat generated output as untrusted until you have reviewed and tested it. Do
+not paste credentials, private messages, proprietary source code, or other
+sensitive material into an AI service.
+
 ## Protect credentials and private data
 
 Never commit:
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c93036c..a32a1d8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -17,6 +17,19 @@ BarKeep is free and open-source software under the
 [MIT License](LICENSE). You are welcome to use it, fork it, modify it,
 redistribute it, or build your own project from it. Contributions are welcome.
 
+## Development transparency
+
+BarKeep was built with substantial assistance from generative AI tools,
+primarily OpenAI ChatGPT/Codex and Anthropic Claude. AI assisted with product
+exploration, implementation, debugging, tests, documentation, and release
+automation.
+
+Brian Phillips is the human maintainer and reviews, tests, signs, and takes
+responsibility for every official release. This disclosure describes how the
+software was developed: BarKeep does not require or contact an AI service
+during normal operation. Its optional hooks and MCP server only connect to AI
+tools when you explicitly configure them.
+
 ## Features
 
 **Menu bar app** (tabbed popover: Device / Message / Timers / Arcade / Settings)
@@ -244,6 +257,11 @@ swift build            # debug build
 
 The icon is generated: `cd assets && swift gen_icon.swift 1024 icon.png` (see `gen_icon.swift` for the pixel grid).
 
+Release packaging verifies the signed app before archiving and verifies a
+freshly extracted copy with
+[`scripts/verify-release-archive.sh`](scripts/verify-release-archive.sh), so a
+damaged release archive fails before publication.
+
 ## Contributing
 
 Bug reports, feature ideas, documentation improvements, code contributions,
diff --git a/scripts/package-release.sh b/scripts/package-release.sh
index 3b1e4a5..07a1d80 100755
--- a/scripts/package-release.sh
+++ b/scripts/package-release.sh
@@ -26,8 +26,17 @@ fi
 codesign --verify --deep --strict --verbose=2 "$APP"
 
 ZIP="dist/BarKeep-${VERSION}.zip"
-rm -f "$ZIP"
-ditto -c -k --keepParent "$APP" "$ZIP"
+
+package_and_verify() {
+    rm -f "$ZIP"
+    # Do not ship local resource-fork metadata as unnecessary AppleDouble (._*)
+    # entries. The signed files and notarization ticket remain in the archive.
+    ditto -c -k --norsrc --keepParent "$APP" "$ZIP"
+    codesign --verify --deep --strict --verbose=2 "$APP"
+    ./scripts/verify-release-archive.sh "$ZIP"
+}
+
+package_and_verify
 
 if [ -n "${BARKEEP_NOTARY_PROFILE:-}" ]; then
     xcrun notarytool submit "$ZIP" \
@@ -35,8 +44,9 @@ if [ -n "${BARKEEP_NOTARY_PROFILE:-}" ]; then
         --wait
     xcrun stapler staple "$APP"
     xcrun stapler validate "$APP"
-    rm -f "$ZIP"
-    ditto -c -k --keepParent "$APP" "$ZIP"
+    codesign --verify --deep --strict --verbose=2 "$APP"
+    spctl --assess --type execute --verbose=2 "$APP"
+    package_and_verify
 fi
 
 echo "Packaged $ZIP"
diff --git a/scripts/verify-release-archive.sh b/scripts/verify-release-archive.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..35cda5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/verify-release-archive.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+#!/bin/zsh
+# Verifies the app exactly as users receive it after extracting a release ZIP.
+set -euo pipefail
+
+if [ "$#" -ne 1 ]; then
+    echo "Usage: $0 <BarKeep-release.zip>" >&2
+    exit 64
+fi
+
+ZIP="$1"
+if [ ! -f "$ZIP" ]; then
+    echo "Release archive not found: $ZIP" >&2
+    exit 66
+fi
+
+VERIFY_DIR="$(mktemp -d "${TMPDIR:-/tmp}/barkeep-release-verify.XXXXXX")"
+trap 'rm -rf "$VERIFY_DIR"' EXIT
+
+ditto -x -k --norsrc "$ZIP" "$VERIFY_DIR"
+
+APP="$VERIFY_DIR/BarKeep.app"
+if [ ! -d "$APP" ]; then
+    echo "Release archive does not contain BarKeep.app at its root" >&2
+    exit 65
+fi
+
+codesign --verify --deep --strict --verbose=2 "$APP"
+echo "Verified extracted release app: $APP"