Short answer: Underdog is a 100% local personal AI from Conway Research that opened an invite-only Mac beta on 6 October 2026. It helps with email, calendar, meeting notes, dictation and errands on your own device, with iPhone and iPad already on the App Store. The product is free to use; the company plans a tiny take only when the agent buys something for you.
By Agent Playbox Editorial · Published
Underdog on-device AI launches invite-only beta
Key facts
- Invite-only beta launched Monday 6 Oct 2026; founder Sigil Wen (Thiel Fellow); company Conway Research (techcrunch.com)
- Product: your own AI for email, calendar, meeting notes, dictation and errands; 100% local AI, 100% private (underdog.ai)
- Platforms on site: Mac; iPhone and iPad on App Store; Windows BETA; Linux and Android on the way. Mac invite-only (Apple silicon); iPhone/iPad no invite needed (FAQ) (underdog.ai)
- TechCrunch (6 Oct) described Macs and Windows PCs initially, with Linux, iPhone and Android coming soon — reconcile with the site listing iPhone/iPad on the App Store (techcrunch.com)
- Powered by Husky inference engine; 27B reasoning model fine-tuned from Qwen3.8-27B (TechCrunch) (techcrunch.com)
- Models on site: Woof 4B (fast), Saluki 27B (light), Underdog 27B (smart); site claims Underdog 27B scores 33.7 vs 31.9 for Claude Opus 4.6 Max on Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index; built on Qwen 3.8 27B (speeds are estimates per site disclaimer) (underdog.ai)
- Pricing: 100% free because it runs on your computer; tiny take when agent buys something with a one-time card (underdog.ai)
- Free at first, never ad-supported; tiny % of payment transactions via Stripe (Patrick Collison angel) (techcrunch.com)
- Security: passed Leviathan Security Group App Defense Alliance assessment (all 20 requirements); Google approved Gmail/Calendar access; pen tests under way (underdog.ai)
- Privacy: AI processing on device; mail syncs directly with email provider; memories on device; Naval mode never calls home (underdog.ai)
- First round raised April 2026 (site); a16z led (a16z announcement 2 Oct 2026); round size undisclosed (a16z.com)
- Featured in TechCrunch text-agent roundup 10 Oct 2026 (techcrunch.com)
What launched on 6 October 2026?
On Monday 6 October 2026, Conway Research opened an invite-only beta of Underdog, a personal AI built to run on your own hardware (TechCrunch). Founder Sigil Wen, a Thiel Fellow, frames it as a private alternative to cloud agents such as Meta Muse and Instinct.
The site calls Underdog “your own AI for email, calendar, meeting notes, dictation and errands,” with 100% local AI and 100% private (underdog.ai). Andreessen Horowitz said on 2 October 2026 that a16z led Conway’s first funding round (a16z announcement).
How does Underdog work on your device?
Local models and the Husky engine
TechCrunch reports that Underdog is powered by the Husky inference engine Wen built, and that it uses a 27B reasoning model fine-tuned from Qwen3.8-27B. The product site names three models: Woof 4B (fast), Saluki 27B (light) and Underdog 27B (smart). Underdog 27B is described as built on Qwen 3.8 27B, with a claimed Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index score of 33.7 versus 31.9 for Claude Opus 4.6 Max; the site notes that speeds shown are estimates.
What it helps with
Per the company site, day-to-day work centres on email, calendar, meeting notes, dictation and errands — the same personal-ops surface many users already expect from messaging agents, but with inference kept on the device rather than a vendor cloud.
Which platforms and invite rules apply?
The Underdog site lists Mac, iPhone and iPad on the App Store, Windows BETA, and Linux and Android on the way. Mac access is an invite-only beta for Apple silicon. The site FAQ states that iPhone and iPad do not need an invite.
TechCrunch’s 6 October report said Macs and Windows initially, with Linux, iPhone and Android coming soon. We keep both accounts: the site already lists iPhone/iPad on the App Store. A later TechCrunch roundup (10 Oct 2026) again described Mac/Windows for the early invite-only beta.
What does Underdog cost?
The pricing page says Underdog is 100% free because it runs on your computer. Monetization is a tiny take when the agent buys something using a one-time card — the same model described in the home-page FAQ.
TechCrunch adds that the product is free at first, will never be ad-supported, and plans to take a tiny percentage of payment transactions via Stripe, noting Patrick Collison as an angel investor. Round size and valuation for the April 2026 first round remain undisclosed in the sources we checked; a16z confirms it led that round.
How does Underdog handle privacy and security?
Privacy claims on the site are concrete: AI processing happens on device; mail syncs directly with the email provider; memories stay on device; and Naval mode never calls home. That design is the clearest contrast with cloud personal agents that keep a remote computer or secure VM for the user.
On security, Underdog says it passed a Leviathan Security Group App Defense Alliance assessment against all 20 requirements, that Google approved Gmail and Calendar access, and that penetration tests are under way. We report those as company claims with the site as the source.
What does Underdog mean for personal users?
If you want a personal assistant without sending every memory to a cloud agent, Underdog is aimed at you. Good first jobs map to subscription audit, trip planning and rebooking and restaurant and appointment booking — with your approval before spend.
Templates such as inbox zero coach, errand runner and personal finance watcher fit an agent that drafts while you keep the final say. Mac is invite-only; iPhone and iPad need no invite per the site FAQ.
How does Underdog compare with Meta Muse and Hark Pro?
Meta Muse is Meta’s personal agent in the Muse app, on the web and in WhatsApp. It runs in a dedicated Secure VM and offers a free tier plus paid Power and Maximum plans. Underdog keeps models and memories on your machine and stays free with a take-rate on purchases rather than a monthly seat. See Underdog vs Meta Muse.
Hark Pro, also opened widely on 6 October 2026, is free on iOS, Android and web with its own cloud computer (Handoff). Paid Hark tiers buy extra usage. Underdog keeps inference local and is invite-only on Mac. Side-by-side: Underdog vs Hark Pro.
For a wider map, see the personal agents table, Bees and our best personal AI agents 2026 guide.
What should you watch next from Underdog?
Watch for more Mac invites, Windows BETA maturity, and when Linux and Android ship. Also watch how the purchase take-rate is disclosed in practice, and whether security assessments are updated publicly.
As underdog.ai and reporting evolve, we will refresh the Underdog profile and the Muse and Hark Pro comparisons.
Timeline: how did we get here?
- : Wealthsimple Penny: an AI assistant for money tasks. Wealthsimple announced Penny on 5 November 2026: an AI assistant that helps clients with everyday money and trading tasks — e-Transfers, wires, spending insights, invoices and trades — and never moves money or places a trade without client confirmation.
- : Quest launches a personal AI advisor over iMessage. New Quest AI Inc.
- : Nox launches Pebs, a daily personal AI agent with its own cloud browser. Nox officially launched Pebs on 1 November 2026: a personal AI agent, powered by its in-house GHI-1 model, that plans everyday jobs, works through them in its own cloud browser and returns lists, files and confirmations.
- : Draw Things releases Local Code, an open-source private AI agent for Mac. The Draw Things team released Local Code on 28 October 2026 and made it fully open source.
- : Wabi 2.0 opens to everyone: a personal AI agent you use together. Wabi, the startup of Replika founder Eugenia Kuyda, opened Wabi 2.0 to all users on 19 October 2026.
Agent snapshot: what do we know so far?
Facts below come from the agent profiles in our directory, each linked to its source.
Underdog at a glance
- Vendor: Conway Research (founded by Sigil Wen, per TechCrunch)
- Where you use it: Mac (invite-only Apple silicon beta); iPhone and iPad on the App Store (no invite needed per site FAQ); Windows BETA; Linux and Android on the way (underdog.ai). TechCrunch (6 Oct 2026) described Macs and Windows initially with Linux, iPhone and Android coming soon.
- Pricing and availability: 100% free because it runs on your computer (underdog.ai/pricing); monetization is a tiny take when the agent buys something with a one-time card (site FAQ). Never ad-supported (TechCrunch).
- Funding: First round raised April 2026 (underdog.ai); a16z led per a16z announcement (Chris Dixon) and TechCrunch; amount and valuation undisclosed. Investors named on site/TC: Andreessen Horowitz, Khosla Ventures, Hummingbird, Anthology fund (Menlo + Anthropic), SV Angel, Breakneck; angels include Patrick Collison, Naval Ravikant, Guillermo Rauch, Noam Brown (and Deedy Das per TechCrunch).
Meta Muse at a glance
- Vendor: Meta
- Where you use it: Muse app (iOS, Android), muse.ai web, WhatsApp; AI glasses 'coming soon'
- Pricing and availability: Free tier with usage limits; Power USD 20/month; Maximum USD 100/month (per Neomanex, 30 Sep 2026). Meta: 'free for most of what people need'.
- Funding: n/a (Meta product)
Hark Pro at a glance
- Vendor: Hark (founded by Brett Adcock, per TechCrunch)
- Where you use it: iOS and Android apps, web
- Pricing and availability: Full feature set free with a usage cap; Hark Pro² USD 20/month for 2× usage; Hark Pro³ USD 100/month for 10× usage (per hark.com)
- Funding: Not disclosed in the sources we checked
Related comparisons and guides
- Underdog
- Underdog vs Meta Muse
- Underdog vs Hark Pro
- Meta Muse
- Hark Pro
- Bees
- Best personal AI agents 2026
- Personal agents table
Agents in this story
100% local personal AI for email, calendar, meeting notes, dictation and errands — runs on your device, not in the cloud.
Meta's personal AI agent: message it in the Muse app or WhatsApp, and it works on your goals inside a dedicated secure virtual machine.
Personal AI 'operating system for your life' with its own cloud computer (Handoff), proactive Action Buttons and Panels; free with paid usage tiers.
Frequently asked questions
What is Underdog?
A 100% local personal AI assistant from Conway Research for email, calendar, meeting notes, dictation and errands. Invite-only Mac beta launched 6 Oct 2026; iPhone and iPad are on the App Store per the company site.
Is Underdog free?
Yes, per underdog.ai/pricing: 100% free because it runs on your computer. The company plans a tiny take when the agent buys something with a one-time card. TechCrunch says it will never be ad-supported.
Does Underdog send my data to the cloud?
The company says AI processing and memories stay on device, mail syncs directly with your email provider, and Naval mode never calls home. We report those as site claims.
Who founded Underdog and who invested?
Founder Sigil Wen (Thiel Fellow); company Conway Research (TechCrunch). First round raised April 2026 (site); a16z led (a16z, 2 Oct 2026). Round size undisclosed. Other named backers include Khosla, Hummingbird, Anthology, SV Angel and angels such as Patrick Collison and Naval Ravikant.
How does Underdog differ from Meta Muse or Hark Pro?
Muse and Hark Pro use cloud-side computers or VMs; Underdog runs models on your device. Muse has free plus paid monthly plans; Hark Pro is free with paid usage tiers; Underdog is free with a planned take-rate on purchases.
Sources
Updated