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TLDR: The article explores the feasibility of running Small Language Models (SLMs) on legacy hardware, specifically a 16GB RAM laptop, to support the "Sovereign AI" movement. It details the challenges faced, such as model failures and system constrai...

Introduction The local AI landscape of late 2025 is a testament to the power of open-source innovation, extending far beyond the handful of mainstream applications that first captured the public’s imagination. A vibrant and mature ecosystem of specia...

With Privacy Support Doing this article has become a yearly favorite, so I plan to add extra value by doing two editions this year. All of the tools below are free, many are open-source, and there are a wide range of LLMs, SLMs, and LMMs out there. F...
