Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about the private ChatGPT alternative that runs on your own computer — answered in plain English.
What exactly is WorkInPrivate?
WorkInPrivate is a private AI chatbot — like ChatGPT, but it runs entirely on your computer. You can chat with it, ask questions, write emails, brainstorm ideas, analyze documents, and more. Everything stays on your machine. Nothing is sent to the cloud.
What does "local AI" mean?
It just means the AI runs directly on your own computer instead of on a company's servers somewhere on the internet. Tools like ChatGPT send everything you type to the cloud; WorkInPrivate keeps it on your machine — so your questions, documents, and files are never sent away. You don't need to understand any of the technical side; the app sets it all up for you.
How is this different from ChatGPT?
The main difference is privacy and cost. ChatGPT sends everything you type to OpenAI's servers and costs $20/month. WorkInPrivate runs the AI on your own computer — your conversations never leave your machine. And it's a one-time purchase ($29.99), not a subscription.
Does it really not send any data to the internet?
Correct. The only network call the app ever makes is an optional check to see if a new version is available. Your conversations, documents, and files never leave your computer. You can even disconnect from the internet entirely after the initial setup and it works perfectly.
Do you use my conversations to train AI?
No. Because WorkInPrivate runs entirely on your own computer, your conversations and files are never sent anywhere — so they can't be collected, read, or used to train any AI, by us or anyone else. This is different from cloud tools like ChatGPT, where what you type may be used to improve their models.
Is it safe for confidential or client work?
Many professionals — lawyers, therapists, accountants, healthcare workers, and journalists — use WorkInPrivate precisely because nothing leaves their machine. Keeping data on your own device removes the third-party-disclosure risk that makes cloud AI hard to use with confidential information. It supports your confidentiality obligations, but it isn't a substitute for your own compliance program (for example, HIPAA compliance depends on your whole practice, not any single app).
What can I use it for?
Anything you'd use ChatGPT for! Write and edit documents, draft emails, brainstorm ideas, summarize PDFs or Word docs, analyze images, explain complex topics, write code, and more. It's a general-purpose AI assistant.
What are the system requirements?
Minimum: 8 GB RAM, 5 GB free disk space, Windows 10+, macOS 12+, or Linux.
Recommended: 16 GB RAM with an NVIDIA GPU or Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) for faster responses.
The app automatically detects your hardware and recommends the best AI model for your computer.
Recommended: 16 GB RAM with an NVIDIA GPU or Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) for faster responses.
The app automatically detects your hardware and recommends the best AI model for your computer.
What AI models are included?
You don't have to pick or understand any of this — the app handles it. WorkInPrivate runs trusted, industry-standard AI (the same kind of technology behind the big-name assistants), and during setup it automatically downloads the version that runs best on your computer. Once it's set up, everything runs privately on your machine — we never see it. For the curious: the models are free and open, including options for general chat, image analysis, and coding.
Can I upload files?
Yes! You can upload PDFs, Word documents, text files, code files, and images. The AI reads the content and helps you analyze, summarize, or work with it. For images, you'll need a vision-capable model (the app will recommend one if needed).
Do I need technical skills?
Not at all. If you can use a chat app on your phone, you can use WorkInPrivate. You download it, double-click to open, and a friendly setup wizard walks you through everything. No command lines, no configuration files, no programming.
How fast are the responses?
It depends on your hardware. With a modern GPU (NVIDIA or Apple Silicon), responses stream in real-time — similar to ChatGPT. On CPU-only machines, responses are slower but still usable. The app recommends lighter models for slower hardware.
Is there a free trial?
Yes! WorkInPrivate is free to download and try for 7 days — every feature unlocked, no account or credit card required. When the trial ends, unlock the app forever with a one-time $29.99 license key that you paste right into the app (click “Have a key?” or Settings → License).
On a Mac, it says the app “can’t be opened” or should be moved to the Trash. How do I open it?
This is expected — and safe. WorkInPrivate is made by an independent developer and isn’t yet signed through Apple’s paid program, so macOS shows a caution the first time you open it. It does not mean your download is broken or unsafe, and you should not move it to the Trash. Here’s how to open it:
- Double-click WorkInPrivate, then click Cancel on the warning (not “Move to Trash”).
- Open the Apple menu → System Settings → Privacy & Security.
- Scroll to the Security section and click Open Anyway next to WorkInPrivate.
- Enter your password or use Touch ID, then click Open.
macOS remembers your choice, so you only do this once. The “Open Anyway” button only appears right after you try to open the app, so if you don’t see it, double-click the app once more and check again. The download also includes a READ ME FIRST file with these same steps.
On Windows, I see “Windows protected your PC.” Is that a problem?
No. That message comes from Microsoft Defender SmartScreen because WorkInPrivate is from an independent developer and hasn’t built up a reputation with Microsoft yet — it doesn’t mean the app is unsafe. Click More info in the blue box, then click Run anyway. Windows remembers your choice, so you only need to do this once. A READ ME FIRST file with these steps is included in the download.