diff --git a/Dockerfile b/Dockerfile
index 4d264c88..e776664e 100644
--- a/Dockerfile
+++ b/Dockerfile
@@ -1,7 +1,23 @@
+# Use an official Python base image from the Docker Hub
 FROM python:3.11-slim
-ENV PIP_NO_CACHE_DIR=yes
-WORKDIR /app
-COPY requirements.txt .
-RUN pip install -r requirements.txt
-COPY scripts/ .
-ENTRYPOINT ["python", "main.py"]
+
+# Set environment variables
+ENV PIP_NO_CACHE_DIR=yes \
+    PYTHONUNBUFFERED=1 \
+    PYTHONDONTWRITEBYTECODE=1
+
+# Create a non-root user and set permissions
+RUN useradd --create-home appuser
+WORKDIR /home/appuser
+RUN chown appuser:appuser /home/appuser
+USER appuser
+
+# Copy the requirements.txt file and install the requirements
+COPY --chown=appuser:appuser requirements.txt .
+RUN pip install --no-cache-dir --user -r requirements.txt
+
+# Copy the application files
+COPY --chown=appuser:appuser scripts/ .
+
+# Set the entrypoint
+ENTRYPOINT ["python", "main.py"]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/scripts/ai_config.py b/scripts/ai_config.py
index 4eb076ef..89a4e07e 100644
--- a/scripts/ai_config.py
+++ b/scripts/ai_config.py
@@ -70,8 +70,8 @@ class AIConfig:
         """
 
         config = {"ai_name": self.ai_name, "ai_role": self.ai_role, "ai_goals": self.ai_goals}
-        with open(config_file, "w") as file:
-            yaml.dump(config, file)
+        with open(config_file, "w",  encoding='utf-8') as file:
+            yaml.dump(config, file, allow_unicode=True)
 
     def construct_full_prompt(self) -> str:
         """
diff --git a/scripts/main.py b/scripts/main.py
index 466f50dd..3cc0bf45 100644
--- a/scripts/main.py
+++ b/scripts/main.py
@@ -129,60 +129,6 @@ def print_assistant_thoughts(assistant_reply):
         logger.error("Error: \n", call_stack)
 
 
-def load_variables(config_file="config.yaml"):
-    """Load variables from yaml file if it exists, otherwise prompt the user for input"""
-    try:
-        with open(config_file) as file:
-            config = yaml.load(file, Loader=yaml.FullLoader)
-        ai_name = config.get("ai_name")
-        ai_role = config.get("ai_role")
-        ai_goals = config.get("ai_goals")
-    except FileNotFoundError:
-        ai_name = ""
-        ai_role = ""
-        ai_goals = []
-
-    # Prompt the user for input if config file is missing or empty values
-    if not ai_name:
-        ai_name = utils.clean_input("Name your AI: ")
-        if ai_name == "":
-            ai_name = "Entrepreneur-GPT"
-
-    if not ai_role:
-        ai_role = utils.clean_input(f"{ai_name} is: ")
-        if ai_role == "":
-            ai_role = "an AI designed to autonomously develop and run businesses with the sole goal of increasing your net worth."
-
-    if not ai_goals:
-        print("Enter up to 5 goals for your AI: ")
-        print("For example: \nIncrease net worth, Grow Twitter Account, Develop and manage multiple businesses autonomously'")
-        print("Enter nothing to load defaults, enter nothing when finished.")
-        ai_goals = []
-        for i in range(5):
-            ai_goal = utils.clean_input(f"Goal {i+1}: ")
-            if ai_goal == "":
-                break
-            ai_goals.append(ai_goal)
-        if len(ai_goals) == 0:
-            ai_goals = ["Increase net worth", "Grow Twitter Account", "Develop and manage multiple businesses autonomously"]
-
-    # Save variables to yaml file
-    config = {"ai_name": ai_name, "ai_role": ai_role, "ai_goals": ai_goals}
-    with open(config_file, "w") as file:
-        documents = yaml.dump(config, file)
-
-    prompt = get_prompt()
-    prompt_start = """Your decisions must always be made independently without seeking user assistance. Play to your strengths as an LLM and pursue simple strategies with no legal complications."""
-
-    # Construct full prompt
-    full_prompt = f"You are {ai_name}, {ai_role}\n{prompt_start}\n\nGOALS:\n\n"
-    for i, goal in enumerate(ai_goals):
-        full_prompt += f"{i+1}. {goal}\n"
-
-    full_prompt += f"\n\n{prompt}"
-    return full_prompt
-
-
 def construct_prompt():
     """Construct the prompt for the AI to respond to"""
     config = AIConfig.load()
@@ -318,10 +264,6 @@ def parse_arguments():
         logger.typewriter_log("GPT4 Only Mode: ", Fore.GREEN, "ENABLED")
         cfg.set_fast_llm_model(cfg.smart_llm_model)
 
-    if args.debug:
-        logger.typewriter_log("Debug Mode: ", Fore.GREEN, "ENABLED")
-        cfg.set_debug_mode(True)
-
     if args.memory_type:
         supported_memory = get_supported_memory_backends()
         chosen = args.memory_type