How to Run AI Models Locally and Why It Matters

Epoch AI data shows open-weight models have trailed closed models by an average of four months since January 2026. Free tools like Ollama and LM Studio allow users to run small models with about 8GB of VRAM, while the largest models like Alibaba's Qwen 3.8-Max require hardware beyond consumer reach. Closed models won 24 of 31 tests in Alibaba's comparison. Running locally keeps conversations private and avoids sending data to external servers, with software being free but requiring compatible hardware.