A writer for The Verge describes beginning to use AI on a regular basis, having previously hesitated. Their main reservation was handing personal data to cloud services, which has led them toward running AI models locally instead. The author notes it is increasingly feasible to run capable models on one’s own machine, though this may require spending significant money on a computer or laptop with large amounts of RAM.
The piece is positioned as the start of an ongoing series, with the author sharing their experience as a non-expert to help readers decide whether the same path is worth pursuing. It also references Apple’s pitch for its new Mac desktops as part of the broader hardware context.
Why it matters
Running AI locally offers an alternative to cloud services for users concerned about data privacy, but it raises questions about cost and the hardware needed to do it well.
Who should care
Readers curious about local AI, privacy-minded users, and those weighing whether to invest in hardware capable of running models themselves.