I use my AI like it is still 1998!
A new app runs Apple Intelligence entirely offline inside a nostalgic, interactive Windows 98 desktop simulator.
A developer has launched AI Desktop 98, an iOS app that uniquely packages Apple's on-device AI technology within a fully interactive, nostalgic Windows 98 desktop environment. The app simulates the complete experience of a late-90s PC, from a BIOS boot sequence and a functional Start menu to draggable application windows and authentic system sounds. Crucially, all AI processing is handled locally via Apple Intelligence, requiring no internet connection, cloud servers, or user accounts. This design ensures complete privacy, with zero data collection, making the assistant a fully private entity on the user's device.
Beyond the retro aesthetic, the app is a functional tool. Users can chat with the on-device AI, save and organize conversations as files within a 'My Documents' folder, and even delete them to a 'Recycle Bin.' It includes a built-in web browser window and options to export chats. The experience is enhanced with a CRT monitor filter for added nostalgia. This project represents a creative fusion of computing eras, offering the powerful, privacy-focused capabilities of modern on-device AI through the comforting and familiar interface of a bygone desktop era, all without subscriptions or network dependencies.
- Provides a fully private, on-device AI assistant powered by Apple Intelligence that requires no internet or cloud connection.
- Wraps the AI in a completely interactive Windows 98 desktop simulator with boot sequence, Start menu, and draggable windows.
- Ensures zero data collection with no accounts or subscriptions, offering a nostalgic yet functional standalone tool.
Why It Matters
It demonstrates a compelling, privacy-first model for AI interaction by combining powerful local processing with a disarming, familiar user interface.