What hardware does your PC need to run a local AI model? (www.engadget.com)

A recent exploration into the hardware requirements for running local AI models reveals that while easier access to AI tools is possible, limitations remain due to memory and processing constraints. Users can quickly set up chatbots using platforms like Ollama or LM Studio on a standard 16GB PC; however, this setup only allows for small models with around 7-8 billion parameters, such as Meta's Llama 3.1 8B. To run more advanced models closer to the capabilities of giants like ChatGPT or Claude, a significant upgrade to at least 32GB of RAM and a graphics card with 16GB VRAM is necessary, highlighting the increasing demands of modern AI applications. The study also emphasizes the critical role of memory bandwidth in determining model performance, suggesting that faster GPU VRAM leads to improved processing speeds compared to conventional system memory. While models like OpenAI's gpt-oss-20b claim to function with 16GB RAM, they strain available resources. Meanwhile, cutting-edge models continue to require vast amounts of memory, making high-tier local setups infeasible for everyday users. As local models gain traction for personal use, the reality remains: for anything approaching frontier AI capabilities, users will need industrial-grade systems or reliance on cloud-based options.