You want to build AI-powered applications, but you don’t want to send your users’ data to OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google. This guide shows you exactly how to build private AI apps with zero data retention.
Why Private AI Matters
When you use OpenAI’s API, every prompt you send is processed on their servers. By default, OpenAI retains your data for 30 days. Even with enterprise agreements, you’re trusting a third party with your users’ most sensitive information.
⚠️ The Privacy Problem
Every prompt sent to a US-based AI provider is potentially subject to the CLOUD Act, which allows US law enforcement to access data stored by US companies, even if that data is stored in Europe.
The Private AI Stack
Building a private AI application requires thinking about privacy at every layer:
🔒 Inference Layer
Where your prompts are processed. Use a provider with zero data retention and EU-sovereign infrastructure.
💾 Storage Layer
Where your application data lives. Encrypt at rest, minimize what you store, and use EU-hosted databases.
🔑 Authentication Layer
How users authenticate. Use standard protocols (OAuth 2.0, OIDC) with EU-hosted identity providers.
🌐 Network Layer
How data travels. Use TLS everywhere, consider VPNs for sensitive connections.
Migrating from OpenAI to TensorX
The good news: switching to TensorX takes literally one line of code. We’re fully compatible with the OpenAI API:
client = OpenAI(base_url="https://api.tensorix.ai/v1", api_key="tx_...")
That’s it. Your existing code works without modification. You get the same models, the same API format, the same streaming support — but with zero data retention and EU sovereignty.
Choosing the Right Model
TensorX gives you access to the best open-source models for private inference:
Model Comparison
| Model | Best For |
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GDPR Compliance Checklist
When building AI applications for European users, make sure you’ve covered:
- Data minimization: only send what’s necessary for the AI task
- Legal basis: document your lawful basis for processing
- Data subject rights: implement deletion and access request workflows
- Privacy by design: build privacy in from the start, not as an afterthought
- DPA: sign a Data Processing Agreement with your AI provider
⚠️ TensorX DPA
TensorX provides a GDPR-compliant Data Processing Agreement (DPA) for all customers. Our zero-retention architecture means the DPA is simple: we process your data and immediately discard it.
Real-World Architecture
Here’s a typical private AI application architecture using TensorX:
- User sends request to your application
- Your application preprocesses and sanitizes the request
- Your application calls TensorX API with the processed prompt
- TensorX processes the request in an ephemeral enclave
- Response is returned to your application
- Your application post-processes and returns to user
- No data is retained at any point in the TensorX infrastructure
Start Building Private AI
Get started with TensorX and build AI applications that respect your users’ privacy. Zero data retention, EU sovereignty, OpenAI-compatible API.
