PHNTMOne
Straight answers

Frequently asked questions

If your question isn't here, email me — you'll get the builder, not a support queue.

Does it work without the internet?
Yes. The assistant — the model, your memories, the chat — runs entirely on the device. Unplug your router and it keeps working. You only need a connection if you choose to fetch a software update or turn on the optional bring-your-own-key mode.
Is anything I say sent to the cloud?
No. In Private mode (the default), nothing you say or type leaves the device — not to us, not to any third party. There is no telemetry, no analytics on the device, and no account. The optional Boosted mode is the single exception, it's off by default, and the device tells you plainly every time it would apply.
What AI model does it run?
A small open-weights language model plus a local embedding model for memory, both running on the device's own hardware. We tune the exact model choice for the hardware right up to production, and the device always shows you which brain answered. An honest framing: a small local model is genuinely useful, not a frontier model — that's exactly the trade the product makes for total privacy, and if you want more power for a hard task, Boosted mode uses your own API key.
Is there a subscription?
No. You buy the device once and Private mode is free forever — there's nothing for us to bill because nothing runs on our servers. If you enable Boosted mode, you pay your model provider directly for what you use; none of that goes through us.
What happens if PHNTM the company disappears?
Your device keeps working, full stop. It doesn't depend on our servers for anything — not for answers, not for login, not for staying alive. It's a Linux computer you own, SSH access is documented, and your data is on your hardware in your house. This question is exactly why the product is built this way.
Can I SSH in? Can I tinker with it?
Yes. It runs Debian Linux, SSH is available and documented, and we will never remove it. You never need a terminal — setup happens on the touchscreen — but the machine is yours, and we mean that literally.
How does the phone chat work?
Scan the code on the device's screen and a private chat opens on your phone, served directly from the device over your network — no app store, no account, no cloud relay in between. Your phone is talking to the box on your desk, not to a server somewhere.
Does it talk?
Yes — it speaks its answers and status out loud through the built-in speaker, and you talk to it by typing on the touchscreen or from your phone. It's a companion with a voice, not a far-field microphone listening to your living room.
What's the hardware?
Raspberry Pi 5 with 8 GB RAM, a 10.1″ 1920×1200 touchscreen (5-finger multi-touch), speaker, active cooling, and 256 GB storage with an optional NVMe upgrade — in an enclosed case. Full details on the specs page.
When can I buy one, and what will it cost?
The first units are being built by hand now; pricing will be announced when they're ready. Join the waitlist and you'll hear the moment you can order — or email me directly if you want one early.