Private AI for email: what stays on your computer

Cloud AI vs AI on your computer

Most AI email features send the text of your messages to an AI service on the internet, which writes the answer and sends it back. The service may keep the text for a while, depending on its terms.

On-device AI runs a language model on your own computer. Your email is read and answered locally, and nothing is sent to an AI company. The trade-off is that it needs a reasonably capable computer.

What on-device AI can do well

Today's local models are good at everyday email tasks:

1. Drafting replies in your tone, which you then edit.
2. Rewriting your text to be shorter, friendlier or more formal.
3. Summarizing long threads.
4. Spotting meetings in emails and offering to add them to your calendar.
5. Writing a morning briefing of what needs you today.

What your computer needs

Without a graphics card a smaller model can run on the processor: it works, just slower and simpler. For quick, high-quality answers a graphics card with 8 GB of memory or more and 16 GB of computer memory (RAM) is recommended; 16 to 24 GB of graphics memory runs larger, smarter models. Models need 3 to 22 GB of disk space.

NotiSpark checks your computer and picks the best model it can run smoothly.

Questions to ask any AI email tool

Before you turn on AI in any email app, check:

1. Where is my email processed: on my computer or on a server?
2. Is my text stored, and for how long?
3. Is it used to train models?
4. Can I choose a different provider or switch the AI off?

Why it matters for email in particular

Your mailbox holds things you would not post anywhere: contracts, invoices, medical appointments, passwords sent by mistake, private conversations. Many AI services handle data carefully, but every copy that leaves your computer is one more place it could be stored, logged or exposed.

Some businesses also have rules about client data. Keeping AI processing on the computer avoids having to check whether a new AI provider is allowed.

Setting up private AI in NotiSpark

The built-in AI needs no account with any AI company:

1. Open Settings, then AI.
2. Let NotiSpark check your computer; it suggests the best model that will run smoothly.
3. Download the model once (3 to 22 GB, depending on size).
4. Try a reply draft or a thread summary; the first answer can take a little longer while the model loads.
5. On Business you can also connect your own AI provider for tasks you start yourself.

Getting good results

Treat AI drafts as a first version: read and edit them before sending, especially names, dates and amounts. Short, clear instructions work best, for example "polite, two sentences, say yes to Thursday".

Local models are smaller than the biggest cloud models, so very long or unusual tasks may come out simpler. For everyday replies, summaries and briefings they are more than enough, and they keep working without an internet connection.

Questions and answers