Okara AI, a private AI platform, has officially rolled out its beta version, providing individuals and teams instant access to more than 20 open-source AI models through a unified encrypted interface. The platform is designed to address a common challenge in the AI community, where deploying and configuring new models often requires significant infrastructure, technical expertise, and GPU servers. This process can take hours or even days, limiting the ability of developers, researchers, and startups to experiment with multiple AI models efficiently. By eliminating the need for manual setup and server configuration, Okara allows users to focus on practical application, testing, and iteration.
Fatima Rizwan, Founder of Okara AI, highlighted the increasing sophistication of open-source models such as Llama 3.3, Qwen 2.5, and DeepSeek, noting that their capabilities are rapidly approaching those of proprietary AI lab models. Rizwan explained that one of the biggest barriers for users is the time and effort required to configure infrastructure before the AI models can be used effectively. “We’re making it instant, no infrastructure setup, no sending sensitive data to third parties,” she said. The platform encrypts all conversations end-to-end and ensures that user data is never used for AI training, making it particularly appealing to privacy-conscious developers, small businesses, and teams who need secure solutions.
Okara AI’s platform combines individual productivity with team collaboration. Users can access a diverse range of models, including Llama, Qwen, DeepSeek, and Mistral, and switch between them mid-conversation without losing context. The integrated real-time search capability allows users to pull relevant information from the Web, Reddit, Twitter, and YouTube directly within the interface, streamlining research and content generation. Additionally, the collaborative workspace enables teams to share AI interactions, retain memory across sessions, and work together on projects without losing continuity. Since its alpha launch in October 2025, Okara has attracted over 50,000 users and processes thousands of AI interactions daily, reflecting growing demand from developers, ML engineers, and startup teams who require flexibility before committing to production infrastructure.
The platform’s pricing model is designed to cater to a range of users, including a free tier for basic model access and paid subscriptions starting at $15 per month for individuals and teams. Rizwan emphasized that the future of AI is multi-model, where organizations and developers will select specialized models tailored to specific tasks rather than relying on a single provider. By offering seamless access, robust collaboration tools, and privacy-focused features, Okara AI positions itself as an essential infrastructure for a rapidly evolving AI ecosystem. Its approach reduces technical friction, encourages experimentation, and provides a secure environment for AI adoption, making it an attractive option for developers, innovators, and privacy-minded users exploring open-source AI capabilities.
With the beta launch, Okara AI is bridging the gap between cutting-edge open-source AI models and users who want to leverage them quickly, securely, and collaboratively, marking a significant step in democratizing AI access for startups, research teams, and individual developers across Pakistan and beyond.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.