The company’s new Hark Pro runs locally on a user’s computer, delivering a full‑screen AI helper without ads and with a strong emphasis on keeping data private.

Hark has unveiled Hark Pro, a desktop‑based AI assistant that runs entirely on a user’s machine, promising a full‑screen helper experience without ads and with a strong focus on privacy.

Local‑First Architecture

Unlike many cloud‑reliant chatbots, Hark Pro processes queries locally, meaning user data never leaves the computer unless explicitly shared. The app leverages on‑device inference models that can run on standard CPUs and GPUs, reducing latency and eliminating the need for constant internet connectivity.

Privacy‑Centric Features

Hark Pro includes built‑in encryption for stored conversation histories, optional sandboxed execution for third‑party plugins, and a clear consent flow for any data that might be transmitted for model updates. Users can also disable telemetry entirely from the settings panel.

The assistant supports typical productivity tasks—scheduling, email drafting, and web search—while keeping the content of those interactions on the device. Hark’s team emphasizes that no advertising or data‑selling partnerships are integrated into the product.

Performance and Compatibility

Early benchmarks show Hark Pro handling standard language queries in under 300 ms on a mid‑range laptop, with higher‑end machines achieving sub‑100 ms response times. The software is compatible with Windows, macOS, and popular Linux distributions, and it offers a customizable UI that can be toggled between a compact sidebar and a full‑screen mode.

  • Runs entirely offline by default
  • End‑to‑end encryption for stored chats
  • No third‑party ads or trackers
  • Cross‑platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Hark Pro is available for download as a free beta, with a paid tier that unlocks advanced language models and priority support. The company plans to expand the ecosystem with developer tools for creating privacy‑safe extensions.

For more details, see the TechCrunch coverage of Hark Pro’s launch.

TechCrunch article on Hark’s privacy‑focused AI assistant