GoKawiilOllama Mac app adds local text-to-speech via Gradium's Phonon models
Ollama has added text-to-speech support to its Mac app, starting with Phonon, a family of small speech models from Gradium. The feature generates audio in real time as text is produced, and Ollama says Windows and Linux support is coming soon. Ollama reports its MLX-based implementation runs 35% faster than Gradium's own version in tests on an M5 Max MacBook Pro.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Adding speech generation extends Ollama beyond text and image models into audio, potentially making it a more complete local-AI toolkit for developers who want privacy and offline operation. The reported speed gains from Apple's MLX framework suggest Apple Silicon hardware could become an increasingly attractive platform for running generative AI workloads locally rather than in the cloud.
- Ollama's Mac app now supports real-time text-to-speech using Gradium's Phonon models.
- Ollama claims 35% faster speech generation than Gradium's own implementation on an M5 Max MacBook Pro, attributed to Apple's MLX framework.
- Windows and Linux support for speech models is planned but not yet available.
Mac Studio with Apple M2 Max — Running local AI models like the ones now supported by Ollama demands serious unified memory and GPU horsepower, and the Mac Studio delivers plenty of both. Its Apple Silicon architecture pairs perfectly with MLX-optimized workloads, letting you run text-to-speech and other models locally without relying on the cloud. It's an ideal machine for anyone diving deeper into local AI experimentation on macOS.”,
See Mac Studio with Apple M2 Max 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: 9to5mac.com — Marcus Mendes, 2026-10-26
Published there as: “Ollama for Mac gains support for local text-to-speech models”
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