Ghost Emerges From Stealth
Ghost, an AI hardware startup founded by 19-year-old Zain Javaid, has emerged from stealth with an $11 million seed funding round led by Andreessen Horowitz. The company is developing a new type of computer designed specifically to run AI agents.
Meet Core, the $3,499 AI Computer
Ghost’s first product, called Core, is priced at $3,499. Unlike a conventional desktop, it is designed to continuously run AI agents that can understand a user’s data and perform tasks on their behalf.
The company describes Core as a kind of “brain in a box” that does not need its own screen. Users can interact with it through a phone app.
Built Around AI Agents
Core is designed to bring together information from a user’s computer, applications and smart-home devices. Its software is intended to let AI agents work continuously instead of requiring users to repeatedly give instructions.
The system includes an Nvidia RTX Pro 4000 SFF Blackwell GPU, with the graphics processor included in the device’s price.
Models Come Preinstalled
Ghost says Core will ship with three AI models: Qwen-3.8-Next, Qwen-3.8-27B and Gemma-4-31B. Users can also install other models available through Hugging Face or load their own trained models.
This gives Core a more flexible approach than a typical consumer computer built mainly around cloud-based AI services.
How Core Differs From a Mac Mini
Javaid argues that Core is different from Apple’s Mac Mini because its hardware and software are designed specifically for AI agents. A Mac Mini, by comparison, is a general-purpose computer that users can configure for AI workloads.
Ghost is therefore betting that consumers will pay for a dedicated machine rather than assembling an AI setup themselves.
Can Personal AI Become a New Hardware Category?
Ghost’s idea reflects a broader shift in AI from chatbots that respond to prompts toward agents capable of taking actions independently.
Core preorders have opened, with the first shipments expected in the last week of October. Whether consumers will pay $3,499 for a dedicated personal AI machine remains one of the biggest questions for the young startup.