Hark releases Hark Pro, a privacy-focused AI personal assistant

In short: Hark has launched Hark Pro, a new AI personal assistant that aims to handle computer tasks while putting a spotlight on privacy.

What happened

Hark, a startup founded less than a year ago by Brett Adcock, released Hark Pro widely on October 6. The service is free to try, and it also offers a paid subscription tier for heavier use.

Hark Pro is designed to use your computer for you. In simple terms, it is meant to click through websites and apps the way you would, after you connect it to parts of your digital life like your email and calendar, and possibly your files and payment methods.

The product appears as a full-screen home base. It has a chat box in the middle and “panels,” which are small dashboards that surface things you might need, like reminders or tasks waiting for approval.

A notable design choice is that Hark can show you what it is doing in a small window while it browses the web. The company says this is meant to build trust, like watching a helper do the work instead of leaving the room and saying “it’s done.”

Hark’s design lead, Abidhur Chowdhury, told TechCrunch the company is not trying to sell ads and “steal your data.” He also said Hark’s understanding of users is intended to stay task-related.

Hark says it plans to ship an “AI-native” device in 2027 to pair with the software, but it has not shared details.

Why it matters

AI assistants can only book flights, pay bills, or handle government websites if you give them deep access to your accounts. That can be useful, but it raises real privacy and security concerns. Hark is betting that showing its work and leaning into a privacy message will make people more comfortable handing over the keys.

Source: TechCrunch AI