GoKawiilVerge reviewer begins testing local AI tools on new Mac Studio and Windows RTX Spark machines
A Verge laptop reviewer describes starting to experiment with running AI models locally rather than relying on cloud services, citing privacy concerns about sharing personal data with companies like OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, and Anthropic. The testing includes Apple's new M5 Ultra Mac Studio and upcoming Windows RTX Spark machines with up to 128GB of RAM, starting with the open-source self-hosted tool Hermes Agent, which runs free when used with local large language models.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The piece reflects a broader push by Apple and PC makers to market high-RAM machines specifically for running AI locally, suggesting hardware vendors see privacy-conscious, offline AI use as a growing selling point. This could signal a shift in how consumers evaluate computers, prioritizing AI capability and data control over traditional specs, though whether local AI proves genuinely useful for everyday tasks remains an open question the reviewer is still exploring.
- A Verge reviewer is testing local AI setups on Apple's M5 Ultra Mac Studio and new Windows RTX Spark machines with up to 128GB RAM.
- The open-source Hermes Agent app, which runs free with local LLMs, was the reviewer's starting point for hands-on experimentation.
- Privacy concerns about cloud AI services from major tech companies are driving interest in locally run AI models.
Mac mini with Apple M4 chip — If you're curious about running AI models locally without sending your data to the cloud, the Mac mini is a compact, affordable entry point into Apple's unified memory architecture that's being touted for on-device AI workloads. It's a great way to experiment with local AI tools mentioned in the article without committing to a pricier Mac Studio or Windows AI PC.
See Mac mini with Apple M4 chip on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: theverge.com — Antonio G. Di Benedetto, 2026-10-11
Published there as: “Learning to use local AI is exciting, overwhelming, and frustrating”
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