Terms of use

Last updated: 25 October 2026

What ClusterChat is

ClusterChat is a free, non-commercial experiment run by lwn. It's an AI chatbot that runs in its users' browsers: each person who chooses to contribute runs part of the AI model on their own graphics card, and together they answer everyone's messages.

People use it in clusters. A cluster is a group of browser tabs that are open on ClusterChat at the same time and run the AI model together, each on its own graphics card. The public demo is a cluster anyone can join. A private cluster is one that only people with its invite link can join.

You accept these terms when you press "Join and chat" or "Create cluster". Pressing either also confirms that you're 18 or over and that you'll follow the code of conduct below. If you don't agree, please don't use ClusterChat.

An experiment, provided as it is

ClusterChat is an experiment, and it's provided as it is, with no guarantees. It may be slow, stop working, lose your chats, or change without notice. It only works while enough people's graphics cards between them hold the whole model, and it may be shut down at any time.

AI-generated replies

Every reply comes from an AI model, not a person. Replies can be wrong, made up, out of date or offensive. They aren't professional advice of any kind, whether medical, legal, financial or anything else. Check anything important with a reliable source, and don't rely on ClusterChat for decisions that matter.

Your GPU and connection

Contributing your graphics card is optional. You choose whether to, and how much memory to give, on the setup screen before you join, and you can change it later under Contribute. If you do, your browser downloads part of the AI model (several gigabytes) and uses your graphics card, electricity and internet connection to run other people's messages. You do this at your own risk, and any costs, such as your electricity or data usage, are yours. You can stop at any time by closing the tab.

Other people in your cluster

The AI runs in other people's browsers. They're independent: ClusterChat doesn't control them or what they do, including whether they look at or record messages that pass through their browser, and isn't responsible for other users' actions. If you want to control who runs your chats, start a private cluster and share its invite link only with people you trust. See the privacy notice for what others can see.

Code of conduct

You must not use ClusterChat to:

do, plan or help with anything illegal;
create, request or share sexual content involving children, in any form;
seek help making weapons capable of mass harm, or malicious software;
harass, threaten or harm anyone;
try to read, record, change or interfere with other people's messages or connections;
attack, overload or disrupt the service, the servers or other users' devices.

Breaking these rules may get you blocked from the service, and serious illegal activity may be reported to the relevant authorities. To report misuse, email [email protected].

Age

ClusterChat is for adults only. You must be 18 or over to use it.

Liability

ClusterChat is free and provided as it is. As far as the law allows, ClusterChat and lwn aren't liable for any loss or damage from using it, including lost chats, anything you do based on a reply, other users' actions, or wear, costs or problems with your own device or connection. Nothing in these terms limits liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, for fraud, or for anything else the law doesn't allow to be excluded, and nothing here affects your legal rights as a consumer.

Software and model licences

ClusterChat's source code is public on GitHub. It is licensed under the GNU Affero General Public License, version 3.

Governing law

These terms are governed by the law of England and Wales. If you live elsewhere in the UK, you can also bring a claim in the courts where you live, and you keep any protections the law of your home country gives you.

Changes and contact

These terms may be updated. If they are, the date at the top will change, and continuing to use ClusterChat after that means you accept the new version. For any questions, email [email protected].