ARKANA Quickstart Guide
Get from zero to your first AI conversation in under 5 minutes. No cloud, no API keys, no data leaving your Mac.
1. Requirements
Before installing ARKANA, make sure you have:
- Hardware: Any Mac with Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4 — all variants)
- Memory: Minimum 16GB unified memory (32GB+ recommended for larger models)
- macOS: Version 14 (Sonoma) or later
- Storage: 10GB free space for ARKANA + models
2. Installation
- Download the installer from your account dashboard or the link in your access email
- Open the
.dmgfile and drag ARKANA to your Applications folder - Launch ARKANA from Applications (or Spotlight: ⌘ Space → “ARKANA”)
- Grant the requested permissions (Accessibility, for global keyboard shortcuts)
3. Activation
On first launch, you'll be prompted to enter your access key:
- Access keys look like
AK-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX - You received your key via email or QR code
- Activation validates your licence — no personal data is collected
- Once activated, ARKANA works fully offline
Don't have an access key? Join the waitlist or check your queue position.
4. Your First Workspace
After activation, ARKANA automatically:
- Downloads the base model — a 4-bit quantised LLM optimised for your chip (~4GB)
- Initialises your intelligence layer — local memory, context store, and preferences
- Creates your workspace — a private environment where all your data stays on-device
You can start chatting immediately. ARKANA learns your patterns, preferences, and context over time — building a truly personalised AI that's unique to you.
5. Key Features
🧠 On-Device Intelligence
AI runs on your Mac's Neural Engine and GPU. No cloud processing, no API calls, no latency.
🔒 Sovereign Privacy
Your data never leaves your device. We can't read it, access it, or monetise it.
✈️ Works Offline
Full AI capability with zero internet. Perfect for travel, secure environments, or simply disconnecting.
⚡ Zero Latency
Responses are instant — no round-trip to a server. Apple Silicon makes local inference blazing fast.
📚 Personal Context
ARKANA learns your vocabulary, preferences, and work patterns locally over time.
⌨️ Global Shortcuts
Invoke ARKANA from anywhere with a keyboard shortcut. Context-aware in any app.
6. Frequently Asked Questions
- What Mac do I need?
- Any Apple Silicon Mac (M1+) with 16GB+ RAM. M1 Pro/Max and newer provide better performance.
- Does it require internet?
- No. Core AI runs fully offline. Internet is optional for web search and account sync.
- Is my data safe?
- Yes. All processing is on-device. We cannot access your private data.
- How is it different from ChatGPT?
- ChatGPT runs in the cloud; ARKANA runs on your Mac. Zero latency, zero data exposure, works offline.
Ready to get started?
