---
title: About Jan
description: Jan is a ChatGPT-alternative that runs on your own computer, with a local API server.
keywords: [Jan AI,  Jan, ChatGPT alternative, local AI, private AI, conversational AI, no-subscription fee, large language model ]
---

Jan believes in the need for an open source AI ecosystem, and are building the infra and tooling to allow open source AIs to compete on a level playing field with proprietary ones.

Jan's long-term vision is to build a cognitive framework for future robots, who are practical, useful assistants for humans and businesses in everyday life. 

## Why does Jan Exist?

### Mission

Our mission is to allow humans and businesses to own their AI, with the right to tinker, repair and innovate. 

### Ideal Customer

Our ideal customer is an AI enthusiast or business who has experienced some limitations with OpenAI, and is keen to find open source alternatives. 

### Problems

Our ideal customer would use Jan to solve one of these problems. 

*Control*
- Control (e.g. preventing vendor lock-in)
- Stability (e.g. runs predictably every time)
- Local-use (e.g. for speed, or for airgapped environments)
 
*Privacy*
- Data protection (e.g. personal data or company data)
- Privacy (e.g. nsfw) 

*Customizability*
- Tinkerability (e.g. ability to change model, experiment)
- Niche Models (e.g. fine-tuned, domain-specific models that outperform OpenAI)

Sources: [^1] [^2] [^3] [^4]

[^1]: [What are you guys doing that can't be done with ChatGPT?](https://www.reddit.com/r/LocalLLaMA/comments/17mghqr/comment/k7ksti6/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)
[^2]: [What's your main interest in running a local LLM instead of an existing API?](https://www.reddit.com/r/LocalLLaMA/comments/1718a9o/whats_your_main_interest_in_running_a_local_llm/)
[^3]: [Ask HN: What's the best self-hosted/local alternative to GPT-4?](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=36138224) 
[^4]: [LoRAs](https://www.reddit.com/r/LocalLLaMA/comments/17mghqr/comment/k7mdz1i/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3)

### Solution

Jan is a seamless user experience that runs on your personal computer, that glues the different pieces of the open source AI ecosystem to provide an alternative to OpenAI's closed platform. 

- We build a comprehensive, seamless platform that takes care of the technical chores across the stack required to run open source AI
- We run on top of a local folder of non-proprietary files, that anyone can tinker with (yes, even other apps!) 
- We provide open formats for packaging and distributing AI to run reproducibly across devices

## How Jan Works

### Open Source

Jan is a startup with an open source business model. We believe in the need for an open source AI ecosystem, and are committed to building it. 

- [Jan: a Personal AI](https://github.com/janhq/jan) (AGPLv3)
- [Nitro: run Local AI](https://github.com/janhq/nitro) (AGPLv3)

### Build in Public

We use Github to build in public, and welcome anyone to join in.  

- [Jan's Kanban](https://github.com/orgs/janhq/projects/5)
- [Jan's Roadmap](https://github.com/orgs/janhq/projects/5/views/2)

### Bootstrapped

Jan is currently a bootstrapped startup. We balance technical invention with the search for a sustainable business model. 

We appreciate any business that can balance growth with cashflow/profitability. 

### Remote Team

Jan has a fully-remote team. We are mainly based in the Asia timezone. We use [Discord](https://discord.gg/af6SaTdzpx) and [Github](https://github.com/janhq) to work. 

## Contact

### General Enquiries

Drop us a message in our [Discord](https://discord.gg/af6SaTdzpx) and we'll get back to you.

- `#general`: for general discussion
- `#jan-dev`: for Jan-related questions
- `#nitro-dev`: for Nitro-related questions

### Careers

Jan has a culture of ownership, independent thought, and lightning fast execution. If you'd like to join us, we have open positions on our [careers page](https://janai.bamboohr.com/careers).   

## Footnotes