A New Era in AI: The Battle Between Open and Closed Source

In the fast-paced world of artificial intelligence, a fierce battle is underway between advocates of open-source and those championing closed-source solutions. Amidst this tech feud, a daring startup from Singapore, Menlo Research, is making headlines by pursuing a groundbreaking vision.

Introducing Jan: The Revolutionary AI Application

Menlo Research is on a mission to create the 'brains for robots'—innovative software enabling machines to perceive, think, and act within the real world. Their flagship product, Jan, is a lightweight desktop application that allows users to run large language models locally, keeping all data securely on their devices rather than in the cloud.

Launched in October 2023, Jan has quickly gained traction, accumulating millions of downloads and an astounding 7,000 new installs daily. Users have praised the app as an effortless way to utilize open-source LLMs without needing expensive hardware.

Pioneers of Open Source in AI

Menlo Research stands out not only for its innovative products but also for its unwavering commitment to open-source principles. Remarkably, the company operates without external venture funding, even as investors scramble to uncover the next big AI breakthrough.

Founders with a Vision: Daniel Ong and Nicole Zhu

Co-founded by Daniel Ong and Nicole Zhu, both Stanford graduates, Menlo Research combines expertise from diverse fields. Ong previously served as the CTO of a student loan platform, while Zhu held a vice presidential role in fraud and risk management at Gojek. They aim to cultivate a team-oriented environment, stating that the true investors are the talented individuals who choose to be part of Menlo.

To incentivize dedication, Menlo allocates 1% of company equity every six months to employees, including part-time contributors. This performance-based equity distribution has involved as many as 18 team members in recent cycles, reflecting a commitment to collective success.

Jan: Seamless Performance Right on Your Laptop

The remarkable success of Menlo Research can be largely attributed to Jan. The app allows users to effortlessly load popular open-source models, such as Alibaba's Qwen3 and DeepSeek R1, with just a few clicks—totally offline. Test results from Tech in Asia reveal that even standard laptops can successfully run Jan, with enhanced performance on machines equipped with discrete graphics cards.

For example, on a mid-range gaming computer, DeepSeek R1 can process each request in under a minute, making advanced AI accessible to a broader audience.

A Bright Future for Open-Source AI?

As Menlo pushes forward, the question lingers: Can this bootstrapped startup sustain its ambitious open-source goals in a fiercely competitive market? Time will tell, but with a dedicated team and a growing user base, Menlo Research is undoubtedly carving a path toward the future of AI.

So, as the war rages between open and closed-source, keep an eye on Menlo Research—this startup could revolutionize the way robots think!