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Local-First Architecture

A Control Plane for
AI Orchestration

Bring your own keys. Query up to 10 providers in parallel. Run structured roundtable debates. Build custom agents. Keep all your data local.

The Architecture of Trust

Privacy by design, not by policy. Our desktop app acts as a local sidecar. We are structurally absent from the data path.

01

Direct Provider Connections

  • •Your Machine → AI Provider → Your Machine
  • •KeyRing Labs servers are NEVER in the data path
  • •Verified: Open network monitor during any session
Network path
Your Device → localhost backend → AI provider
02

Hardware-Bound Key Encryption

  • •Symmetric encryption with hardware-bound key derivation
  • •Key derived from machine hardware characteristics
  • •Storage: Encrypted file + OS Keyring integration (optional)
  • •Extraction attack: Useless on different hardware
Key derivation
hardware_characteristics → encryption_key
03

Localhost-Only Backend Binding

  • •Backend binds exclusively to localhost (loopback interface)
  • •Not accessible from local network (LAN)
  • •Not accessible from internet
Backend binding
bind(host="localhost")
04

Bootstrap Handshake + Bearer Auth

  • •Handshake: Signal-first protocol (stdout → stdin pipe)
  • •Tokens: 40-char urlsafe random strings (admin + chat)
  • •CSRF: Separate 32-char token, required on all mutations
  • •CORS: Trusted origins only (tauri://localhost, etc.)
Auth headers
Authorization: Bearer <40-char-token> X-CSRF-Token: <32-char-token>
05

Entitlement Validation

  • •Cryptographic signature verification
  • •Public key: Embedded in desktop app at build time
  • •Grace period: 7 days cached entitlement
  • •Machine binding: License tied to hardware characteristics
Signature verify
verify(signature, payload, public_key)

End-to-End Workflows

Built for high-velocity research and complex operations. Everything managed from one unified interface.

Multi-Model Comparison

Enable multiple providers. Send one prompt. Compare responses in real-time across tabs. Generate a final synthesis using a Consensus model.

Roundtable Deliberation

Run structured, multi-participant reasoning workflows. Set up a topic, choose models to debate or investigate, and moderate the turns.

Agent Execution

Build reusable agents with specific tools (web fetch, file operations) and memory constraints. Test, save, and execute them locally.

Our Mission

KeyRing is a local-first AI orchestration platform built by someone who uses it every day. Your prompts, API keys, and conversation history stay on your machine - by architecture, not by policy. We never route your data through our servers because there are no servers to route it through.

SQLite PersistenceHistory saved locally
HW EncryptionKeys bound to machine
No RelayDirect API connections

Founder's Note

"KeyRing wasn't a business plan. It was a personal project that refused to stay small - one person, years of iteration, a conviction that AI tooling shouldn't require handing your keys to a middleman. The local-first architecture wasn't a marketing decision. It was the natural result of building software for yourself, on your own machine. No investors to answer to. No usage data to monetize. Just the product."

- The KeyRing Team

Frequently Asked Questions

Clear answers about our architecture, pricing, privacy model, and product direction.

Is this a wrapper?
No. A wrapper routes your prompts through their servers. KeyRing connects directly from your machine to AI providers. We never see your prompts, responses, or keys. You can verify this yourself by opening a network monitor during a session - you will not see any requests to keyringlabs.com.
Why do I need to provide my own API keys?
Two reasons: (1) Privacy - we can't log what we don't have. (2) Cost transparency - you pay providers directly, no markup. Your subscription fee funds app development, not API usage. This also means you can use any model from any provider without restrictions.
Which operating systems are supported?
KeyRing AI is currently released for Windows 10+ (64-bit). macOS and Linux builds are not public yet; they are in active day-to-day testing and development and are planned for a future release. The Windows app bundles its required runtimes, so you do not need to install Python, Node, or Rust separately.
How does the beta pricing work?
First 25 beta seats: $25 one-time. Next 75 beta seats: $75 one-time. All beta testers get 50% off for 24 months at launch ($4.50/mo Basic, $14.50/mo Pro). Beta access includes the full Pro feature set during the beta window.
What's the difference between Basic and Pro?
Basic: 6 providers (OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, xAI, DeepSeek, ElevenLabs). Pro: All 11 providers plus Roundtable conversations, Agent Builder, and advanced analytics. Both tiers get image/video generation, tool calling, and encrypted local storage.
How do I report bugs or request features?
Email support@keyringlabs.com or join our community on Reddit and Discord. Beta feedback directly shapes the roadmap. We read every report and prioritize based on user impact.
Is my data backed up?
Conversation history is stored locally in SQLite. We recommend exporting important conversations (via Export button) for your own backup. We cannot recover lost local data - this is a tradeoff of local-first architecture.
Can I use KeyRing without an internet connection?
The app requires internet for AI provider API calls. However, all your data (conversations, settings, API keys) is stored locally. No cloud sync, no remote backups, no server dependency beyond the AI providers themselves.
How secure is the API key storage?
Keys use symmetric encryption with hardware-bound key derivation. The encryption key is derived from your machine's hardware characteristics. The encrypted file is useless on different hardware. Optionally, keys can be offloaded to OS-native secure storage.

Keep Reading

The About page explains the product philosophy. These pages go deeper into the architecture, workflow surface, and trust model behind the app.

Architecture

See how the local runtime, website trust layer, and desktop stack fit together.

Security

Review the security posture, key handling, and local-first trust boundaries.

Multi-Model Docs

Read how Chatroom, provider tabs, mentions, and comparison workflows work in practice.

Local-First Guide

Read the deeper architecture comparison between local-first runtimes and cloud relays.

Join the Community

GitHub
GitHub
Reddit
Reddit
Discord
Discord
Support