Creating my own AI assistant, from scratch with ChatGPT

Building a Personal AI Assistant from the Ground Up Using ChatGPT

Welcome to my journey into creating a fully autonomous AI assistant tailored to my needs.

The Vision

My goal is to develop a comprehensive AI companion—an intelligent assistant capable of handling a wide range of tasks. Think of it as my own version of Jarvis: able to generate scripts, execute commands, monitor the weather, track the stock market, and perform various online activities—all while prioritizing data privacy by operating locally.

Current Challenges & Approach

Currently, I operate on ChatGPT’s free plan, which leads me to seek greater independence from the platform. I aim to make my AI autonomous, functioning seamlessly without constant reliance on ChatGPT. While the project is ambitious—some might even call it daring—I’m committed to seeing it through.

Progress & Lessons Learned

After dedicating approximately 40 hours, I hit a few roadblocks which prompted me to restart the project. Each iteration has been a valuable learning experience, revealing limitations in ChatGPT’s ability to remember past interactions. For example, as conversations grow longer, the AI sometimes forgets previous folder structures or project details, forcing me to provide context repeatedly. This inefficiency underscores the need for a dedicated, self-sufficient AI system.

Technical Architecture

I’m utilizing Ollama as the underlying engine, combined with a Mistral language model. My setup includes a dual-environment system:

• Live Environment: Handles real-time tasks and interactions, capable of communicating with the test system and executing primary functions.
• Test Environment: Monitors script updates, detects mistakes, and self-corrects. Once scripts are validated, it implements the changes internally and reports back to the live environment for deployment.

This layered approach enhances stability and autonomy, allowing the system to evolve with minimal oversight.

Personal Background

To clarify, I do not come from a traditional coding or systems engineering background. My strength lies in logical thinking and a strong desire to learn. This project is driven by curiosity and determination rather than professional expertise.

Seeking Community Insights

I would love to hear your thoughts, tips, or suggestions as I continue refining this system. If you’re interested in my progress, or want to share ideas for improving AI autonomy, please feel free to reach out.

Conclusion

Building a local, autonomous AI assistant is undoubtedly a complex task—especially without a technical background—but it’s also incredibly rewarding. I believe that with persistence and sharing knowledge, we can create tools that truly enhance our daily