Lesson 7 of 7

Should you go local?

6 min read

You've seen what local AI can do. So how do you decide — is running your own worth it for you?

Four questions

It comes down to what you value. Local is worth it when privacy matters (sensitive data that can't leave), when you need it offline, when your use is heavy and steady (so the hardware pays off), and when you have a capable computer already. If none of those hold, a hosted service is simpler and gives you the newest models with zero setup.

Go local for privacy, offline use, heavy steady volume, and capable hardware — otherwise stay hosted.

It's not all-or-nothing

Most people end up doing both: a hosted service for the hardest, latest-model work, and a local model for private or offline tasks. Going local isn't a rejection of cloud AI — it's a second option you reach for when control matters more than convenience. Now you know enough to make that call.

It's not either/or — many use hosted for the hard stuff and local for the private, offline stuff.

If you're just curious, you don't need to commit hardware. Install a runner app, pull a small model, and try it for an afternoon — the whole thing is free to explore.