tech
Ghost Raises $11M Seed Round for a $3,499 Personal-AI Computer
Ghost, a startup founded by 19-year-old Zain Javaid, has raised an $11 million seed round led by Andreessen Horowitz to build Core, a $3,499 computer designed to run AI agents on a person's behalf, according to TechCrunch. The company announced the round Monday as it emerged from a year of stealth development.
What does Ghost's Core computer actually do?
Core is built to centralize a user's data — desktop files, apps, and smart home device information — onto a single piece of hardware that runs AI agents continuously, Javaid told TechCrunch. The device has no screen; users interact with it through a phone app or voice mode, speaking into the app rather than the box itself. Javaid described Core as a "brain in a box."
The hardware includes an Nvidia RTX Pro 4000 SFF Blackwell GPU, a chip commonly used to run AI models, bundled into the purchase price so buyers do not need to source one separately, Javaid said. Core also runs its own software layer, browser, and filing system, and is designed to process information and complete tasks without requiring constant prompts from the user.
How much does Core cost and when does it ship?
Core is priced at $3,499, per the company. Preorders for the first production batch opened Monday, with shipping scheduled for the last week of October, according to TechCrunch's reporting.
What AI models come preinstalled on Core?
The device ships with three models already loaded: Qwen-3.8-Next, Qwen-3.8-27B, and Gemma-4-31B, Javaid said. Users can add other models from Hugging Face, a platform where developers share AI models, or load their own trained models. Javaid compared Core's update process to Tesla's over-the-air software pushes, saying the company will ask users whether they want to switch when new model generations become available, and that users can also enable auto-updates.
Who is backing Ghost and how much did it raise?
Ghost's $11 million seed round was led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Abstract, Audacious Ventures, SV Angel, and Nova, according to TechCrunch. Javaid serves as Ghost's CEO. His founding team includes Nicholas Chua, 19, Yifei Chen, 24, and Gautam Sharda, 23.
How is Core different from running AI on a Mac Mini?
Asked to distinguish Core from Apple's Mac Mini, which some users configure to run AI tools, Javaid said Core's hardware and software are purpose-built for AI agents, with models preinstalled, while a Mac Mini is a general-purpose computer that can be adapted for AI tasks. "You can run models on existing hardware, but it's a terrible experience on many levels," Javaid told TechCrunch.
Javaid's path to Ghost began with an interest in quantitative finance before he said he grew bored and turned to personal AI after ChatGPT's 2022 release. "I felt fundamentally excited in a way that I never had been before," he told TechCrunch.
By the numbers
- $11 million — Ghost's seed round, led by Andreessen Horowitz
- $3,499 — price of the Core device, GPU included
- 3 — AI models preinstalled on Core at launch
Questions
How much does Ghost's Core computer cost?
Core is priced at $3,499, with preorders opening Monday and shipping scheduled for the last week of October, according to TechCrunch.
Who funded Ghost's $11 million seed round?
The round was led by Andreessen Horowitz, with participation from Abstract, Audacious Ventures, SV Angel, and Nova, per TechCrunch.
What AI models are preinstalled on Core?
Core ships with Qwen-3.8-Next, Qwen-3.8-27B, and Gemma-4-31B preinstalled, and users can add models from Hugging Face or their own trained models, founder Zain Javaid said.