The world's first cooperative for AI
Join 52'293 registered users and 2'166 developers using Swiss AI
Public AI Switzerland is a customer-owned cooperative that distributes Swiss-made AI, especially Apertus, to Swiss residents and companies.
#1
Apertus deployer worldwide
52'293
registered users
2'166
developers building on our API
9.58B
of tokens processed
Our plan: AI owned by the people
AI is changing our jobs, our economy, and our society. We have a plan for organizing AI around local control, shared benefit, and democratic governance. Join us today as a Founding Member to get involved.
BECOME A FOUNDING MEMBER:
CHF 100
Founding Membership in Public AI Switzerland
JOIN AND CLAIM MEMBERSHIPNote: Public AI Switzerland is still being set up and benefits may change. For now, Founding Member dues are held in trust by Datalets.ch, a Swiss nonprofit association. Purchase entitles an individual to two shares of CHF 50 each in the cooperative. Payment via TWINT and RaiseNow will be available soon.
FOUNDING MEMBER BENEFITS
Upgraded Chat Experience
Access larger context windows, file and image uploads, and group chats in an enhanced Apertus experience.
Stay on the Cutting Edge
Access a set of new AI tools every month, curated from our community and technology partners.
Limited Edition Physical Zine
Receive a limited physical copy of the Own Our Own (O3) Plan, plus a membership certificate.
For individuals
A friendly chat interface for writing, research and everyday life, no technical knowledge required.
For businesses and developers
A complete API for text generation, embeddings and retrieval.
A Swiss tradition, continued
1899
Banking for the people
When banks served cities but not farmers, Swiss communities pooled their savings and governed their own credit.
1925
Fair access to essentials
When middlemen inflated food prices, Gottlieb Duttweiler drove a truck to the people. Today Migros is Switzerland's largest retailer, still a cooperative.
1941
Consumer solidarity
When wartime scarcity threatened households, consumer cooperatives merged into a national force, putting purchasing power back in members' hands.
1997
Shared infrastructure
When private car ownership proved wasteful, Switzerland pioneered cooperative car-sharing, now 230'000 members strong.
2025
Collective intelligence
When AI became critical infrastructure controlled by a handful of foreign corporations, Switzerland did what it has always done: built a cooperative.
How we compare
CostCHF 100/ year
Data residencySwitzerland
OwnershipCooperative, you co-own it
GovernanceOne member, one vote
SurplusReinvested for members
Source codeOpen source
ModelApertus (Swiss-made, open)
ChatGPT (OpenAI)
CostCHF 240/ year
Data residencyUnited States
OwnershipCorporate, shareholders own it
GovernanceBoard of directors
SurplusShareholder dividends
Source codeClosed
ModelGPT (proprietary)
Speak up in the Swiss National AI Dialogue
Public AI Switzerland is hosting a national dialogue on Switzerland's AI policy and infrastructure. Take part and help shape how AI serves the public.
In collaboration with:
Frequently asked questions
How does membership work?
Membership in Public AI Switzerland means that you are a co-owner with a vote. To become a member, you must first purchase two cooperative shares of CHF 50 each (CHF 100 total). These shares entitle you to vote. From the second year, the annual membership fee to maintain these shares is CHF 50.
Note that voting rights are separate from fees related to member services. The initial membership fee includes a free, one-year subscription to member services. Using Apertus is separate; the chat is free, and API use is billed separately. Any surpluses are reinvested, not paid out.
Why create a cooperative?
Switzerland increasingly relies on foreign AI platforms governed from Silicon Valley or Shenzhen. It's time for a new model, one we collectively own and control.
What's a cooperative?
A cooperative or co-op is a company owned and democratically controlled by its members. Think Migros, Coop, Raiffeisen, or Mobility.
How does this compare to ChatGPT/OpenAI?
Instead of paying CHF 240 a year for ChatGPT, members pay CHF 100 to own a piece of their own AI.
Is the platform already live?
Yes! Try it at chat.publicai.co or the API at platform.publicai.co/docs.