- New AI assistant called Confer, created by Signal's founder
- Confer encrypts chats, ensuring privacy
- Unlike ChatGPT, Confer does not collect or store user data
Moxie Marlinspike, the creator of a popular private messaging app, has launched Confer, an AI assistant designed with privacy at its core. Similar to Signal, Confer ensures that user conversations remain confidential.
With Confer, even server administrators cannot access user interactions. The platform encrypts all user data by default and operates within a trusted execution environment, preventing sensitive information from leaving its secure confines. Unlike many AI services that monetize user data, Confer does not retain any information for training or sell it to third parties.
As concerns about AI privacy grow, the need for a trustworthy solution becomes clear. Recent incidents have highlighted how interactions with AI systems can be less private than users expect. For instance, a court ruling compelled OpenAI to retain all ChatGPT user logs, including deleted ones, for potential legal scrutiny. Additionally, ChatGPT conversations were inadvertently exposed in Google Search results due to public links.
Confer encrypts data before it reaches the server, using passkeys stored solely on the user's device. These keys are never uploaded or shared, ensuring that even the creators of Confer cannot access user chats. It combines the functionality of ChatGPT with the security of Signal.
Private AI
Confer goes beyond typical privacy measures by incorporating a feature called remote attestation, allowing users to verify the code running on its servers. The platform openly publishes its software stack and digitally signs each release.
This level of transparency may not be crucial for all users, but it offers significant reassurance for developers, organizations, and watchdogs concerned about data handling practices. While other AI chatbots provide privacy settings, they often require users to opt-out of data collection, placing the onus on them. In contrast, Confer makes privacy the default setting, raising awareness and potentially increasing demand for AI tools that prioritize user confidentiality.