How to Self-Host Your Own AI Assistant
Complete technical guide to self-hosting an AI assistant. Choose your hardware, configure your server, and keep your data 100% private.
😫 The Problem
Cloud AI services store your conversations on their servers. Every question, every document, every personal detail goes through corporate infrastructure. For privacy-conscious users, professionals handling sensitive data, or anyone who wants true ownership of their AI assistant — cloud-only isn't acceptable.
✨ The Solution
Self-hosting puts you in complete control. Your AI assistant runs on hardware you own, conversations never leave your network, and you decide exactly what data is stored and how. It's surprisingly accessible: a basic self-hosted setup takes about an hour and costs less than most cloud subscriptions.
Step by Step
Choose your hardware: A Mac Mini, old laptop, Raspberry Pi 5, or VPS all work. Minimum 4GB RAM, 20GB storage. macOS, Linux, or Windows.
Install prerequisites: Node.js 20+ (brew install node on Mac, apt install nodejs on Ubuntu), Git (for updates), and a text editor.
Get your API key: Create an account at console.anthropic.com, add payment method, generate API key. This connects your local assistant to Claude's intelligence.
Install OpenClaw: Run 'npm install -g openclaw' in terminal. Takes about 2 minutes depending on connection speed.
Run the setup wizard: 'openclaw setup' walks you through initial configuration. Enter your API key, choose a data directory, select your messaging platform.
Configure networking (optional): For access outside your home, set up port forwarding on your router or use a reverse proxy like Cloudflare Tunnel.
Connect your messaging app: Follow the platform-specific guide for Telegram, WhatsApp, or Discord. Most take 5-10 minutes.
Enable persistence: Run 'openclaw start --daemon' to keep it running in background. On Mac, enable 'Start at login' in System Settings.
Set up automatic updates: Create a cron job or launchd task to run 'npm update -g openclaw' weekly for security patches.
Configure backups: Your data lives in ~/.openclaw by default. Add this directory to your backup system (Time Machine, rsync, etc.)
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