"Presearch Unveils PreGPT 2.0: Decentralized AI Chatbot Challenges Big Tech"

Presearch, a decentralized and privacy-oriented search engine, has launched PreGPT 2.0, a chatbot designed to challenge the dominance of Big Tech in the AI chatbot space. The new release features improved language models and a broader selection of open-source AI options, all running on a network of distributed computers rather than centralized data centers.

Brenden Tacon, innovation and operations lead for Presearch, expressed excitement about the potential of PreGPT 2.0 to disrupt the echo chamber effect that has long been manipulating conventional wisdom and amplifying the herd instinct into blind conformity.

PreGPT 2.0 comes with two subscription tiers: a $2 monthly basic plan running Mistral AI's 7B model and a $5 pro version powered by Venice.ai's more sophisticated LLMs. Both options promise to keep user data private and conversations unmonitored, with chats permanently erased upon deletion.

The chatbot's model lineup features six of the most well-known names in the open-source AI space, including Meta's Llama-3.1-405b, Llama-3.2-3b, and Llama-3.3-70b, as well as Alibaba's Qwen 32b. It also leverages the old Dolphin 2.9 model and offers a custom version of the Mistral 7B model.

Presearch, which launched in beta in 2017 and went live in 2018, aims to reimagine search engine architecture with decentralized technology. The platform processed over 12 million monthly searches through a web of independent nodes, creating a self-sustaining ecosystem that scaled naturally with demand.

PreGPT 2.0 leverages this distributed infrastructure by collaborating with Venice.ai, a privacy-conscious AI service provider, and Salad.com, a community that shares decentralized GPU power. Both pathways encrypt user interactions and refrain from storing chat logs, upholding Presearch's commitment to privacy.

Testing PreGPT 2.0 revealed a capable chatbot that prioritizes function over flash. The interface felt cleaner than competitors, though it lacked image generation capabilities. The integration of a system prompt feature lets users fine-tune the AI's behavior through custom instructions, which is helpful for getting more precise responses.

The platform only manages plain text and lacks support for Excel