jan/docs/docs/about/about.md
2024-01-08 15:36:56 +08:00

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---
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**. We are focused on building the infra and tooling to allow open source AIs to compete on a level playing field with proprietary ones.
Jan's long-term technical endeavor is to build a cognitive framework for future robots, who are practical, useful assistants for humans and businesses in everyday life.
## Quicklinks
- Core product vision for [Jan Framework](http://localhost:3001/docs/)
- R&D and model training efforts [Discord](https://discord.gg/9NfUSyzp3y) (via our small data-center which is `free & open to all researchers who lack GPUs`!)
- Current implementations of Jan Framework: [Jan Desktop](https://jan.ai/), [Nitro](https://nitro.jan.ai/)
## Why does Jan Exist?
### Mission
Our current mission is to allow humans and businesses to **own their AI, with the right to tinker, repair and innovate**.
:::tip
Our life-long mission is to **eliminate work - so human can focus on creation, invention, and moral governance over robots**.
:::
### Ideal Customer
Our ideal customer is an AI enthusiast or business who has experienced some limitations with current AI solutions 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)
_Customisability_
- 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 Framework](https://github.com/janhq/jan) (AGPLv3)
- [Jan Desktop Client & Local server](https://jan.ai) (AGPLv3, built on Jan Framework)
- [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/29)
- [Jan's Newsletter](https://newsletter.jan.ai)
### Bootstrapped
Jan is currently a **bootstrapped, founder funded** startup.
We balance technical invention with the search for a sustainable business model.
Thus, we appreciate any business inquiries that can balance growth with cashflow.
**We invite you to join us on our journey to find PMF**.
Join our [Discord here](https://discord.gg/BnHRr3Q7Ms)
### Revenue Philosophy
❌ Features centering on user compute & data should remain free
✅ Features incurring opex on Jan could be monetized, e.g. custom solutions, hosted APIs
Join our strategic discussions [here](https://github.com/janhq/jan/discussions).
### Remote Team
Jan has a fully-remote team. We are mainly based in the APAC 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
- '#bd-inquiries': for enterprise license queries
### 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