Definition
A private AI server (also called an on-premise AI server, local AI appliance or local LLM server) is a computer owned by a business that runs AI language models and stores the company's knowledge base on-site. Staff use it like a chatbot, but the AI and the data live on the business's own hardware instead of a cloud provider's.
What it can do
- Answer questions from company documents, email and procedures.
- Draft email replies and documents in the company's style.
- Summarize long files and produce reports.
- Search photos and videos by description.
- Automate routine work such as follow-up lists and filing.
What hardware it needs
The key number is memory: AI models must fit in it to run fast. Desktop systems built on NVIDIA DGX Spark have 128 GB of unified memory shared by CPU and GPU, enough for capable models in a quiet, desk-sized box. The Mars Space Rig is built on it: NVIDIA DGX Spark with an NVIDIA Blackwell GPU, a 20-core Arm CPU, 128 GB of unified LPDDR5x memory and a 4 TB NVMe SSD.
Hardware alone is not enough
An empty AI server needs model setup, a document pipeline, email integration, a chat interface, backups and monitoring before it is useful. That is the difference between a GPU box and a private AI assistant. A Space Rig arrives with all of it.
Private, but not cut off
Fully local is the most private option, while cloud models are the most capable at some tasks. A good private AI server lets you choose:
- Private: every question is answered by the AI model on your Space Rig. Nothing leaves your premises.
- Secure: a leading cloud AI model helps with harder tasks, but names, email addresses, phone numbers and other identifying details are masked on your Space Rig first and restored only there.
- Wise: direct access to the cloud AI model for general questions where privacy isn't a concern.
Who it is for
Small and mid-sized businesses, manufacturers, agencies and professional firms that handle confidential information and want AI they control, at a predictable cost.
Frequently asked questions
What is a private AI server?
A computer owned by a business that runs AI models and stores the company's knowledge base on-site, so staff can use AI without their data being stored on a cloud provider's servers.
What is the difference between a private AI server and a private AI assistant?
The server is the hardware; the assistant is the software that makes it useful: document Q&A, email drafting, search, memory and automation. A Space Rig is both.