5 Apps to Run AI on Your Local Machine

If you want to run AI directly on your computer, there are now desktop apps that bring AI models to your device. This means more control, better privacy, and offline access. Here’s a quick look at five top options of AI models:

• ChatGPT: Easy access to OpenAI’s model on Windows and macOS.
• Claude Desktop: Use Claude AI assistant without a browser.
• LM Studio: Experiment with various models offline.
• GPT4All: Supports a range of language models for offline use.
• PrivateGPT: Ideal for secure, self-hosted AI operations.

Each has its strengths and limits. Let’s go over what each one offers.

ChatGPT

ChatGPT is an app from OpenAI that provides a dedicated, easy-access version of ChatGPT for your desktop. It is available on both Windows and macOS, includes a Companion Chat for instant interactions, and allows you to upload files, start new conversations, or generate images directly from your desktop. Voice Mode is also available within the app, enabling hands-free conversations, perfect for brainstorming or discussions.

With keyboard shortcuts like Alt + Space on Windows, you can quickly summon ChatGPT to your screen for real-time help on any project. This tool is especially helpful for productivity, allowing you to fully utilize ChatGPT’s capabilities without needing to switch to a browser.

Pros

• Easy access to ChatGPT from your desktop
• Upload files, start new conversations, or generate images
• Voice Mode for hands-free conversations
• Handy keyboard shortcuts

Cons

• Limited to LLM from OpenAI
• Not available for Linux

Claude Desktop

Claude Desktop is a user-friendly app for macOS and Windows that allows you to interact with Anthropic’s AI assistant, Claude, directly from your desktop. With this app, you can quickly call up Claude for help or conversation using customizable keyboard shortcuts, making it easier to access AI support without opening a browser.

It is available for both free and premium users. Even though it is currently in Beta (at the time of this writing), it’s a great app if you’re looking for a simple AI assistant directly on your computer using Claude.

Pros

• Keyboard shortcuts for easy access to Claude
• Attach files like documents and images in your conversation

Cons

• Limited to Claude AI assistant
• Does not currently support Voice Mode, unlike ChatGPT
• Not available for Linux

LM Studio

LM Studio is a desktop app that allows you to run and experiment with large language models (LLMs) locally on your machine. It offers a user-friendly chat interface and the ability to manage models, download new ones directly from Hugging Face, and configure endpoints similar to OpenAI’s API. Supporting macOS, Windows, and Linux, LM Studio lets users experiment with various model configurations without needing an internet connection, making it a powerful option for offline AI development and testing.

This app is especially useful for developers and researchers who want to experiment with different models without relying on cloud-based services, ensuring data privacy and security.

Pros

• Supports a wide variety of large language models (LLM)
• Headless mode support
• RAG support
• Supports macOS, Windows, and Linux
• Customize your chatbot experience with system prompts, temperature, context length, batch size, and more

Cons

• Requires more space to save multiple LLMs and more resources to run efficiently on your local computer

GPT4All

GPT4All by Nomic is a desktop app that allows you to run language models on your computer offline. It supports a range of models from lightweight to powerful options like LLaMa and Mistral for tasks like summarizing, text analysis, and translations.

You can also save conversation history and attach files or images to your chats, which is great for analyzing sensitive information privately without sharing data to the cloud.

It is available on Windows, macOS, and Ubuntu. This app is a great alternative to ChatGPT and other AI tools if you are looking for a desktop app that can run AI models offline, especially for privacy and security reasons.

Pros

• Supports a wide variety of language models
• Supports Windows, macOS, and Ubuntu
• Fully customizable chatbot experience with system prompts, temperature, context length, batch size, and more

Cons

• Requires more space to save multiple LLMs and more resources to run efficiently on your local computer

PrivateGPT

PrivateGPT is a secure, self-hosted app for running large language models (LLMs) directly on your computer, private cloud, or servers. Designed for fields like healthcare and law, it’s ideal for organizations needing to keep data private because it operates offline, ensuring all information remains on your own infrastructure.

You can also upload documents, analyze content, and get fast answers using its Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) feature, which allows it to find specific, relevant sections for more precise responses.

Since it’s a self-hosted app, it’s a good option for teams needing shared access while keeping all data secure and private.

Pros

• Free and open-source
• Self-hostable web-based application
• Supports RAG
• OpenAI compatible API

Cons

• Setup may not be as easy as a desktop app

Wrapping Up

These apps make it easy to run AI models right on your computer, with some even offering offline use for added privacy and security. Whether you’re a developer, writer, editor, or just interested in exploring AI, each of these apps has features that can help make you more productive. Give them a try and see which one is the best fit for you!