---
schema: 1
type: term
title: _confidential computing_
description: >-
  **Confidential computing** is an approach to privacy in the cloud in which
  workloads run inside **secure enclaves** with **fully encrypted memory**, so
  that even the cloud operator cannot read the data being processed. Paired with
  **open attested runtimes**, users can remotely verify via **hardware-signed
  attestation** that they are talking to an unmodified, private system.
canonical: >-
  https://liquidgold.cc/channel/everyinc/explore/term/confidential-computing-3bf3358b36d1
markdown: >-
  https://liquidgold.cc/channel/everyinc/explore/term/confidential-computing-3bf3358b36d1.md
llms: null
parent: 'https://liquidgold.cc/channel/everyinc/llms.txt'
channel: everyinc
updated: '2026-10-23T22:12:35.346Z'
language: null
children: []
---


# \_confidential computing\_

Canonical: https://liquidgold.cc/channel/everyinc/explore/term/confidential-computing-3bf3358b36d1

Parent: [Channel index](https://liquidgold.cc/channel/everyinc/llms.txt)

## Definition

**Confidential computing** is an approach to privacy in the cloud in which workloads run inside **secure enclaves** with **fully encrypted memory**, so that even the cloud operator cannot read the data being processed. Paired with **open attested runtimes**, users can remotely verify via **hardware-signed attestation** that they are talking to an unmodified, private system.

In the conversation with **Alex Komoroske**, *confidential computing* appears as a privacy architecture for cloud-based AI — secure enclaves with fully encrypted memory, paired with **open attested runtimes**, so users can remotely verify through hardware-signed attestation that the system they are talking to is unmodified and private. It is offered as an alternative to assuming privacy means **local-first**, which is architecturally hard and inconvenient. It also appears as one of the tools for breaking his **iron triangle** (untrusted code, sensitive data, network access — pick two), enabling **contextual flow control**.- A pillar of **private by design** intentional technology, letting data be used only for and by the user. - A coordination primitive: many people can all verify the server does only what it says. - A leverage point alongside contextual flow control and information flow control for escaping data gravity and aggregation.- **Confidential computing** = running cloud compute in secure enclaves with fully encrypted memory. - Combined with **open attested runtimes**, users get hardware-signed proof the server is private and unmodified. - It lets AI assistants stay cloud-based *and* private-by-design — without local-first complexity.