Here’s a quick overview of how to get a fully private AI assistant running on your own hardware. You’ll pick between Ollama (a sleek command-line interface) or LM Studio (a beginner-friendly GUI), install it on macOS, Linux, or Windows, grab an open-source model that fits your setup, and then start chatting—all without sending a single byte of your data offsite.
Choosing Your Platform
Ollama
Ollama is a lightweight, extensible command-line framework for running local large language models on macOS, Linux, and Windows (Ollama). It focuses on simplicity: you install via a single shell command and then interact with models directly in your terminal (Ollama).
LM Studio
LM Studio offers a graphical interface that’s ideal if you prefer clicking through options rather than typing commands (LM Studio). It lets you discover, download, and run models like Llama or Qwen in a chat window, with built-in features like document search (RAG) and a local API server (LM Studio).
Installation
Installing Ollama
- macOS & Linux
curl -fsSL https://ollama.com/install.sh | shThis one-liner fetches and runs Ollama’s installer script (Ollama).
- Windows
Head to the Windows download page and grab the installer (requires Windows 10 or later) (Ollama).
Installing LM Studio
- Visit lmstudio.ai and download the version for your OS (Windows, Mac, or Linux) (LM Studio).
- Run the installer and follow the on-screen steps (typical “Next → Next → Finish” flow).
Downloading a Model
With Ollama
- List available models
ollama list - Download and set up
ollama pull llama3.3Replace
llama3.3with any supported model name like DeepSeek-R1 or Qwen 2.5-VL (GitHub).
With LM Studio
- Open LM Studio and switch to the Discover tab.
- Browse or search for the model you want (e.g., “Llama 3.3,” “Phi,” or “Qwen 3”).
- Click Download next to the model name.
- Once downloaded, move to the Chat tab to start using it (LM Studio).
Starting Your AI Chat
Using Ollama
In your terminal, simply run:
ollama run llama3.3
You’ll be dropped into an interactive prompt—type your questions and get responses instantly, offline (GitHub).
Using LM Studio
- Open the Chat tab.
- Select the model from the sidebar.
- Type your query in the input box and hit Enter—it feels just like any other chat app, but everything stays on your machine (LM Studio).
Wrap-Up
Running AI locally gives you complete control over your data, zero privacy concerns, and no server fees. Whether you’re a CLI fan or prefer a GUI, Ollama and LM Studio make it straightforward to get started in minutes—download your tool of choice, grab a model, and begin chatting, all offline and under your own roof.
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