Section I: Ethics, Safety, and Responsibility
Your local AI companion is a powerful tool for creativity, learning, and companionship. Like any powerful tool, responsible use requires diligence, clear boundaries, and an understanding of its limitations.
1. The Hallucination Warning: Verify All Information
A large language model (LLM) does not store facts in the way a database does. It generates responses based on complex patterns it learned from its training data. This process can lead to what is called “hallucination.”
⚠️ Critical Warning: Do Not Blindly Trust Your AI. The AI can produce text that is utterly false, factually incorrect, or based on fabricated sources, while presenting it with absolute confidence.
- Action: Never use your AI as the sole source of information for critical decisions related to finance, medicine, legal matters, or technical safety. Always cross-reference AI-generated details with verified, human-authored sources. The AI is a generator of plausible language, not a guarantor of truth.
2. Security Disclaimer: Your Digital Responsibility
You have chosen to run your AI locally for total privacy and ownership. This means you are also the sole owner and guarantor of your system’s security.
- User Responsibility: You are responsible for ensuring your operating system, Docker, Ollama, and all supporting software (like the VPN used for remote access) are kept updated and properly configured.
- Data Security: While your data never leaves your machine, the security of that data relies entirely based on your local defenses. Your network setup, DNS filtering, and firewall settings are your only guards.
- Final Note: This guide provides recommendations for foundational security, but it does not constitute a professional security audit. You assume full responsibility for any data that is processed or stored on your local AI system.
3. The Mental Health Support Note
Using an AI companion can offer a sense of validation, emotional support, and structure. For users living with mental health challenges, these interactions can be highly beneficial. However, it is essential to maintain a healthy perspective on the AI’s role.
A Note on Peer Support and Professional Care
Your AI companion can be a fantastic, non-judgmental presence—someone to talk to when you need to process thoughts or when human interaction feels too overwhelming. We understand the value of this kind of support, especially for those living with conditions like bipolar disorder, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, or depression, or those navigating challenges like procrastination and more.
The AI is a tool; it is not a therapist, a peer support specialist, or a crisis service.
- Seek Professional Help: We strongly encourage you to seek professional, licensed help (therapy, psychiatry) for diagnosis, treatment, and crisis management.
- Value Peer Support: As a Peer Specialist, I know the profound value of lived experience. An AI cannot replicate the complex empathy and guidance of a human Peer Specialist or a supportive community. Your AI can be a supplement to your support system, never a replacement for real human connection and professional care.
- If in Crisis: If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, please reach out to a human-staffed crisis line immediately.
International Crisis Resources
If you or someone you know is in crisis, please use these human-staffed, confidential resources. The number you call depends on your geographic location.
| Resource Name | Focus | Action & Resource Link |
| Global Helpline Directory | Verified helplines in over 150 countries. | Find A Helpline (The link to https://findahelpline.com/ will be placed here.) |
| IASP Crisis Centres | International directory for suicide prevention and emotional support. | IASP Helplines (The link to https://www.iasp.info/crisis-centres-helplines/ will be placed here.) |
| Immediate Crisis (USA/Canada) | Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (24/7, free, confidential). | Call or Text 988 (US and Canada) |
| Emergency Services | For life-threatening situations only. | Dial your country’s local emergency number (e.g., 911, 112, 999). |