Self-Hosted AI Assistant 2026 · Live · April 26

Build a Self-Hosted AI Assistant in 2026 — The Complete Guide

Self-hosted AI assistants have gone from complex research projects to practical developer tools in 2026. This live workshop shows you how to build one using OpenClaw and Docker Model Runner — deployed and connected to WhatsApp or Telegram in 4 hours.

Sunday, April 26   9am to 1pm EDT
4 Hours   Hands-on coding
Live Online   Interactive
Register Now → See what you will build ↓

Workshop Details

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Date and Time
Sunday, April 26, 2026
9:00am to 1:00pm EDT
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Duration
4 Hours · Hands-on
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Format
Live Online · Interactive
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Includes
Certificate of Completion
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Privacy
100% Local · No Cloud Required
Register on Eventbrite →

By Packt Publishing · Refunds up to 10 days before

✦ OpenClaw — 200K+ GitHub Stars
✦ 4 Hours Live Hands-On Coding
✦ By Packt Publishing
✦ No Cloud Dependency Required
✦ Certificate of Completion
Why Trust Packt

Over 20 Years of Helping Developers Build Real Skills

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100%
Hands-on — every session involves real code and live building
About This Workshop

Why 2026 Is the Best Year to Build a Self-Hosted AI Assistant

In 2026, the tools for self-hosted AI are mature, the models are capable, and the process is straightforward enough to complete in a single workshop session. OpenClaw, Docker Model Runner, and open weight models combine into the best self-hosted AI stack available.

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What is OpenClaw?

OpenClaw is the open-source personal AI assistant that went viral in early 2026 with 200K+ GitHub stars. It runs on your own devices and connects to WhatsApp, Telegram, Slack and more. No subscription. No data leaving your machine.

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What is Docker Model Runner?

Docker Model Runner is Docker's native feature for running large language models locally on your machine. It gives you an OpenAI-compatible API that OpenClaw uses as its AI brain — complete data privacy, no cloud costs.

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Why Combine OpenClaw and Docker?

OpenClaw gives you the assistant interface and messaging integrations. Docker Model Runner gives you the AI brain running privately on your machine. Together they create a production grade private AI assistant you fully own.

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Why Attend as a Live Workshop?

Setting this up from scattered documentation takes days of debugging. This live workshop gives you a complete guided build in 4 hours with a live instructor answering your questions. Packt has delivered 108 workshops worldwide.

Workshop Curriculum

How to Build a Self-Hosted AI Assistant in 2026

Six modules covering the complete self-hosted AI stack for 2026.

01

How OpenClaw Works

Understand the Gateway, channels, and skills architecture. Set up and configure OpenClaw locally from scratch.

02

Docker Model Runner Setup

Run and manage local LLMs using Docker Model Runner. Pull models, configure memory, and understand the OpenAI-compatible API.

03

Security and Privacy

Configure DM pairing, allowlists, sandbox mode, and proper access controls for your local AI deployment.

04

Connect to WhatsApp or Telegram

Deploy your AI assistant to real messaging platforms without sending data to any third party cloud service.

05

Scalable Architecture

Design an extensible assistant architecture. Add skills, configure personality, and set up proactive automation.

06

Production Deployment

Deploy your OpenClaw and Docker setup to a VPS for always-on availability running 24 hours a day.

What You Walk Away With

By the End of This Workshop You Will Have

A fully self-hosted AI assistant deployed and running in 2026.

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A fully functional local AI assistant running on your machine

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Docker Model Runner configured with your chosen LLM model

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OpenClaw connected to WhatsApp or Telegram

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Security and privacy configuration you can trust

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A reusable architecture for future AI assistant projects

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Certificate of completion from Packt Publishing

Your Instructor

Learn Self-Hosted AI From a 2026 Practitioner

Rami Krispin builds self-hosted AI systems in production — including with the latest 2026 tools.

Rami Krispin

Rami Krispin

Workshop Instructor · April 26, 2026

Rami is a Senior Manager of Data Science and Engineering, Docker Captain, and LinkedIn Learning Instructor with deep expertise in building and deploying production AI systems. He guides you step by step from a blank terminal to a fully deployed private AI assistant — answering your questions live throughout the 4-hour session.

Prerequisites

Who Is This Workshop For?

Developers ready to build a proper self-hosted AI assistant in 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions About Self-Hosted AI Assistants in 2026

Everything you need to know about building a self-hosted AI assistant in 2026.

What is the best stack for a self-hosted AI assistant in 2026? +

In 2026 the best self-hosted AI stack combines OpenClaw for the assistant layer, Docker Model Runner for local LLM inference, and an open weight model like Llama 3, Mistral 7B, or Phi-3 for the AI brain. This combination gives you a production-grade self-hosted AI assistant with messaging platform integration, skills system, and VPS deployment capability.

How has self-hosted AI changed in 2026 compared to previous years? +

In 2026, self-hosted AI has become significantly more accessible. Docker Model Runner integrates LLM running directly into Docker Desktop, eliminating complex setup. Open weight models have improved dramatically in quality. OpenClaw provides a complete assistant framework with messaging integrations. The barrier to entry for self-hosted AI has dropped enormously.

What messaging platforms can my self-hosted AI assistant connect to in 2026? +

In this workshop your self-hosted AI assistant connects to WhatsApp and Telegram through OpenClaw's channel system. OpenClaw also supports Slack, Discord, Signal, iMessage, Google Chat, and others — giving you a wide range of messaging platform options for your self-hosted assistant.

How much does it cost to run a self-hosted AI assistant in 2026? +

The AI inference itself is free — open weight models and Docker Model Runner have no usage costs. If you want always-on availability you need a VPS, which typically costs $20 to $40 per month for a machine with sufficient RAM. This compares favourably to ChatGPT Plus at $20 per month, with the added benefit of complete data privacy.

Is a self-hosted AI assistant in 2026 suitable for non-technical users? +

This workshop is aimed at developers. Setting up and maintaining a self-hosted AI assistant in 2026 still requires comfort with Docker, basic Python, and command-line tools. Once deployed, a non-technical user can interact with the assistant through WhatsApp or Telegram without any technical knowledge.

What are the best open weight models for a self-hosted AI assistant in 2026? +

The best models for self-hosted AI in 2026 depend on your hardware. For machines with 16GB RAM, Llama 3 8B and Mistral 7B are excellent choices. For machines with 8GB RAM, Phi-3 Mini delivers strong performance at a compact size. The instructor covers model selection for different hardware configurations during the live workshop.

Self-Hosted AI Assistant 2026 · April 26

Ready to Build Your Self-Hosted AI Assistant in 2026?

4 hours. Live instructor. Self-hosted AI assistant deployed by the end. Seats are limited.

Register Now →

Sunday April 26 · 9am to 1pm EDT · Online · Packt Publishing