Aaltra and Professor Ruben Verborgh of UGent present Semek, a prototype AI buddy that allows users to decide for themselves which digital content enters their work environment or home. The device processes AI requests locally and offers more control over information flows, regardless of platform or provider.
The rise of artificial intelligence is leading to an abundance of digital content and increasing the need for control over what users see online. The Belgian company Aaltra and Professor Ruben Verborgh (UGent) aim to address this with a personal AI buddy that lets users set their own preferences. The development of Semek comes at a time when unwanted content, such as fake images and personalized phishing, is becoming increasingly common.
The goal of the project is to return control over digital information to the user. Unlike traditional filters, people now decide for themselves, independent of third parties, what is relevant and safe for them or their organization.
AI buddy with local processing #
The Semek prototype is a compact device placed between the public internet and the home Wi-Fi. Users can easily configure which types of content they want to see or block. AI-generated images on social media can be automatically labeled, blurred, or removed, depending on personal preferences.
Other unwanted or explicit content can also be filtered. These choices are configured individually, with Semek automatically performing the selection without the intervention of external algorithms. This gives every user full control, in contrast to standard filters imposed by platforms or providers.
Privacy-friendly #
Semek utilizes an NPU, allowing AI models to run directly on the device. As a result, sensitive data does not need to be sent to external AI or cloud platforms. According to Aaltra CEO Pieter-Paulus Vertongen, all data literally stays in-house, and the device serves as a European alternative to the dependency on large technology companies.
The AI buddy only communicates with the internet for necessary updates, while the analysis and processing of personal data take place entirely locally. This contributes to greater privacy and independence for both citizens and businesses.