AI assistants have become genuinely useful tools for writing, research, coding, and countless other tasks. But there are two fundamentally different ways to access this technology: through cloud services or by running AI locally on your own device.
Each approach has real advantages and trade-offs. Understanding them helps you choose what's right for your situation.
How Cloud AI Works
When you use services like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, your questions travel over the internet to powerful servers in data centers. These servers run the AI model, generate a response, and send it back to you.
Cloud providers invest heavily in the latest, most powerful AI models and the infrastructure to run them at scale. You get access to cutting-edge technology through a simple web interface or app, without worrying about hardware requirements.
How Local AI Works
Local AI flips this model. You download an AI model directly to your computer, and it runs using your device's processor and memory. Your questions never leave your machine—everything happens locally.
This used to require serious technical expertise and expensive hardware. Today, user-friendly applications have made local AI accessible to anyone with a reasonably modern computer.
Comparing the Two Approaches
Privacy
Cloud AI means your conversations exist on company servers. They may be stored, reviewed, and used for training. Local AI keeps everything on your device—there's nothing to store elsewhere because your data never leaves.
Winner: Local AI
Convenience
Cloud AI works immediately from any device with internet access. No downloads, no setup, no storage management. Local AI requires downloading models (which can be several gigabytes) and works only on the device where the model is installed.
Winner: Cloud AI
Offline Access
Cloud AI requires an internet connection. Local AI works anywhere—flights, remote locations, or just when your internet is down.
Winner: Local AI
Cost
Cloud AI typically charges monthly subscriptions, often $20 per month or more for full access. That adds up to $240+ per year, ongoing. Local AI applications are usually one-time purchases or free, and the models themselves are free to download.
Winner: Local AI
Model Quality
The most powerful AI models are available through cloud services. Local models have improved dramatically but the absolute cutting edge still requires massive computing infrastructure. That said, local models are now good enough for the vast majority of everyday tasks.
Winner: Cloud AI (though the gap is narrowing)
Speed
Cloud AI depends on your internet speed and server load. During peak times, responses can be slow. Local AI has no network latency—responses are often faster because everything happens on your device.
Winner: Depends on your setup
Hardware Requirements
Cloud AI runs on any device that can open a web browser. Local AI needs a capable computer. Modern Macs with Apple Silicon handle local AI well, but older machines or basic laptops may struggle with larger models.
Winner: Cloud AI
Who Should Choose Cloud AI?
Cloud AI makes sense if you:
- Want access to the most powerful, newest models
- Use AI from multiple devices (phone, tablet, different computers)
- Have a basic computer that can't handle running models locally
- Don't work with sensitive information that requires extra privacy
Who Should Choose Local AI?
Local AI is the better choice if you:
- Handle confidential, proprietary, or sensitive information
- Want to use AI without monthly subscription fees
- Need to work offline regularly
- Prefer to own your tools rather than rent them
- Value privacy and want your conversations to stay completely private
You Don't Have to Choose Just One
Many people use both approaches. Cloud AI for casual use when convenience matters most. Local AI for sensitive work, offline situations, or when they want to avoid subscription costs.
The good news is that local AI has become genuinely practical. A few years ago, running AI on your computer was a hobbyist pursuit that required significant technical knowledge. Today, it's as straightforward as downloading any other application.
If you've only ever used cloud AI, it's worth trying a local alternative. You might be surprised by how capable it is—and how good it feels to have AI that's truly yours.