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# Background # Background
A one-page account of why the Inference Cooperative exists and how it got
here. For how to join and use it, see [Getting started](getting-started.md);
for the rules, see the [Charter](charter.md).
## Mission
The Inference Cooperative exists to give people a real alternative for AI: a The Inference Cooperative exists to give people a real alternative for AI: a
service owned and directed by the people who use it, rather than rented from service owned and directed by the people who use it, rather than rented from
an extractive industry. Members pay dues on a sliding scale and receive an extractive industry. Members pay dues on a sliding scale and receive
private AI chat and API access through infrastructure the members govern private AI chat and API access through infrastructure the members govern
together. together.
Three commitments shape how we build it:
- **Privacy.** Our "private" models run in trusted execution environments
(hardware-encrypted enclaves) with end-to-end encryption between your device
and the model — the stack is designed so that even the co-op's own operators
cannot read members' conversations.
- **Sustainability.** Members can choose models that run on 100% renewable
energy, from providers with public environmental commitments. We self-host
our own infrastructure, so every efficiency gain is ours to make.
- **Self-governance.** Decisions are made by members through
[policy governance](charter.md), on our [forum](https://forum.inference.coop/),
using free, self-hosted tools wherever possible.
We are a small cooperative by design, fiscally sponsored by the nonprofit We are a small cooperative by design, fiscally sponsored by the nonprofit
[Metagov](https://metagov.org) and funded through member dues on [Metagov](https://metagov.org) and managing member dues on
[Open Collective](https://opencollective.com/inference-cooperative). [Open Collective](https://opencollective.com/inference-cooperative).
Membership starts at $5/month (suggested $15), which covers a $15 monthly For how to join and use it, see [Getting started](getting-started.md);
usage allowance. The service costs what members put in, and no investor takes for our governance model, see the [Charter](charter.md).
a cut.
## How we got here ## How we got here
The cooperative launched in 2026, growing out of research on democratic The cooperative launched in September 2026, growing out of research on democratic
digital infrastructure at the Media Economies Design Lab (MEDLab) at the digital infrastructure through Metagov's [Collective Governance for AI:
University of Colorado Boulder. It began with a single privacy-first provider Points of Intervention](https://metagov.org/cg-ai/).
— Tinfoil, whose models run in encrypted enclaves — and a deliberately small
toolset: a chat, an API gateway, and the basics for membership and payments.
It began with a single privacy-first provider and a deliberately small
toolset: a chat, an API gateway, and the basics for membership and payments.
From there it grew the way co-ops do: in response to what members asked for. From there it grew the way co-ops do: in response to what members asked for.
A model picker grouped providers by what they stand for — **private** A member dashboard made usage and spending transparent. A federated
(encrypted enclaves) and **green** (renewable-powered: GreenPT and Regolo,
the latter with a written zero-data-retention policy). A member dashboard
made usage and spending transparent. A federated
[Matrix](https://matrix.inference.coop) server, a [Matrix](https://matrix.inference.coop) server, a
[forum](https://forum.inference.coop), and a newsletter gave members places to [forum](https://forum.inference.coop), and a newsletter gave members places to
talk to each other and to the project. The chat migrated to LibreChat, and the talk to each other and to the project. The
code that runs the member-facing services was opened up in public code that runs the member-facing services is available in public
repositories. repositories.
In October 2026, members adopted the co-op's first In October 2026, members adopted the co-op's first