Neko: A Revolutionary AI Agent Runtime Squeezed into a Raspberry Pi Zero 2W

A new open-source project called Neko is turning heads in the AI and embedded systems communities. Neko is a lightweight AI agent runtime designed to operate efficiently on resource-constrained devices like the Raspberry Pi Zero 2W and low-end virtual private servers (VPS). This ambitious project allows users to deploy and experiment with AI agents without the need for expensive hardware or complex infrastructure.

One of Neko's key features is its minimalist design. It eschews traditional databases and vector stores in favor of a simple, file-based memory system. The agent's memory is stored in plain Markdown files, making it human-readable, easily editable, and version-controllable using tools like Git. This approach offers a transparent and auditable way to manage the agent's knowledge.

Neko boasts a two-tier architecture that separates the agent's core logic from its interaction with external tools and services. The agent manages its memory using three primary tools: one for correcting outdated facts, another for promoting short-term notes to long-term memory, and a third for compacting context when it becomes too large. This ensures the agent's knowledge base remains relevant and efficient.

The runtime supports integration with a wide range of AI models through its compatibility with the Model Context Protocol (MCP). This allows Neko to work seamlessly with OpenAI, Anthropic (via proxy), Ollama, and self-hosted models. Furthermore, it supports the AgentSkills.io standard, allowing users to easily install and utilize pre-built skills that extend the agent's capabilities. These skills use progressive disclosure, ensuring that only necessary information is loaded into context, optimizing performance.

Beyond its core functionality, Neko provides several convenient features, including Telegram integration for interacting with the agent via a Telegram bot, and a built-in task scheduler that allows the agent to execute recurring or one-shot tasks autonomously. The agent can even create and manage cron jobs, enabling it to set reminders and automate tasks based on user requests. For safe code execution, Neko includes a built-in Python interpreter based on Monty, with configurable memory and recursion limits.

Neko's ease of installation is another major advantage. It can be installed from source with a simple command, and its configuration is managed through a single TOML file. The project is licensed under the MIT license, making it freely available for both personal and commercial use. Neko's combination of lightweight design, rich feature set, and ease of deployment makes it a promising platform for exploring the potential of AI agents in a variety of applications, especially in resource-constrained environments.