Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about CookieAI — on-premise and cloud AI for Swiss businesses.
What is CookieAI?
CookieAI is a private AI assistant designed for Swiss businesses. It runs on a server in your office (on-premise) or on our servers in Zurich (cloud). Your documents, conversations, and data stay in Switzerland — fully compliant with the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP).
How is CookieAI different from ChatGPT?
When you use ChatGPT, every message is sent to Microsoft’s US data centers. CookieAI keeps everything local. On-premise means the AI runs on hardware in your office — no data ever leaves your network. Even our cloud version runs exclusively on servers in Zurich, Switzerland.
What languages does CookieAI support?
CookieAI supports English, German, French, and Italian. The AI automatically detects and responds in the language you write in.
What does “on-premise” mean?
On-premise means the AI runs on a physical server located in your office. There is no cloud involved — your data never leaves your building. You own the hardware, you control the access, and the AI works even without an internet connection.
Does it need internet?
Only for the initial setup and optional software updates. Once installed, CookieAI runs completely offline on your local network. Your team connects through their web browser — no special software needed.
Do I need an IT person to manage it?
No. We handle all installation and configuration. Your team accesses CookieAI through their regular web browser — Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge. No software installation on individual computers.
How long does installation take?
A typical on-premise installation takes 2–4 hours. We configure the hardware, install CookieAI, set up your team accounts, optimize the AI model for your industry, and train your staff — all in a single visit.
Where are cloud servers located?
All CookieAI cloud servers are located in Zurich, Switzerland. No data is stored or processed outside of Switzerland.
Can I switch from cloud to on-premise later?
Yes. We can migrate your team accounts, conversation history, and uploaded documents from our cloud to an on-premise installation at any time.
Is CookieAI FADP compliant?
Yes. Both on-premise and cloud versions comply with the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection. On-premise provides the strongest protection since data never leaves your physical premises. Our cloud version stores all data in Zurich with AES-256 encryption at rest, two-factor authentication, and full right to erasure.
Can CookieAI access the internet?
Only if you explicitly enable web search for a specific conversation. By default, the AI runs entirely offline and answers using its own knowledge and your uploaded documents. When web search is enabled, you are clearly informed that search queries will leave your network.
What about electricity costs?
A typical CookieAI server consumes 100–250W under load — roughly CHF 200–500 per year in electricity. That’s less than a single monthly ChatGPT Team subscription for the same number of users.
Are there ongoing costs after on-premise installation?
The first 3 months of support are included free with every installation. After that, optional support plans start at CHF 149/month covering software updates, model upgrades, and troubleshooting.
How loud is the server?
Our recommended mini PC builds are near-silent — you can place one on a shelf in any office. Larger workstation builds for 15+ users produce about as much noise as a quiet desktop computer.
Can I upgrade the hardware later?
Yes. Upgrading the GPU or adding RAM is straightforward. We offer hardware upgrade services as part of our support plans, so your AI can grow with your team.
What file formats can I upload?
CookieAI supports PDF, Word (.docx), text files (.txt, .md), and images (JPG, PNG, HEIC from iPhones). Images are automatically processed with OCR to extract text, so you can photograph a document and the AI can read it.