How it works
Four steps to hello.
About an hour, most of it the installer running on its own.
Find a spare PC
64-bit Intel or AMD, about 2015 or newer, 8 GB RAM, a screen, and a USB speakerphone. It becomes Walter's own computer.
Run the installer
Install minimal Debian, then the one line from your invite email. It checks the download before installing. 15 to 40 minutes.
Scan, name, connect
Scan the QR on the wall. Name him, set your town, test the mic, sign in to Claude on his screen. Privacy switches all start off.
Say hello
"Hey Walter, what's the weather?" Then pair your phone, follow a podcast, add milk to the list.
When you talk
- His name and your speech are recognised on the device.
- The words (not your audio) go to Claude on your plan.
- A local voice answers while the face shows how he feels.
- Long jobs run in the background; he tells you at a natural pause.
What you need
- A 64-bit Intel or AMD PC you can wipe. 4 cores and 8 GB recommended.
- A screen: the laptop's own, or any monitor or TV.
- A USB speakerphone (best across a room).
- Your own Claude plan or Anthropic API key. Light use fits Claude Pro.
Not yet: Raspberry Pi, Mac, Windows. The installer takes over the whole machine.
Safe defaults
Camera, cloud speech and admin access start off. The AI can run commands on its own machine, which is why it gets one. A more restricted permission mode is planned before public launch. Updates are tested and roll back if they fail; signed releases are being added in the beta.