Local Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become increasingly accessible, and with quantized models gaining popularity, you can now run powerful AI models right on your computer without any cloud subscriptions. Here are four free tools that let you do just that.
1. Ollama: For developers who want a fast way to get started, Ollama is the fastest option. It uses APIs to spin up a local REST API compatible with OpenAI’s format. This means you can use it with minimal code changes and set yourself up as an entire infrastructure.
2. LM Studio: With its user-friendly GUI, LM Studio brings a desktop interface for browsing Hugging Face models, downloading quantized models, and tweaking system prompts without needing a configuration file. It also includes features like headless daemon for server deployments and parallel inference requests.
3. GPT4All: This is an easy entry point into offline LLMs, perfect for beginners who want to quickly get started. Its standout feature is LocalDocs, a built-in RAG system that indexes files automatically, allowing you to pull in relevant passages from your files instead of relying solely on training data.
4. Jan: Taking a different approach, Jan aims to be a complete offline assistant platform with a clean, ChatGPT-like interface. It’s fully open-source and designed for privacy, making it an ideal choice for those who want a secure experience.
These tools offer fast and private AI experiences without the need for cloud subscriptions. With 8 GB RAM and a modern CPU, you can get started with most models, but aiming for 16 GB RAM and a dedicated GPU will provide a better experience. Say goodbye to paying for AI subscriptions and experiment with local AI on your own terms.
Source: https://www.makeuseof.com/free-tools-run-powerful-ai-on-pc-without-subscription