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Luca Liu
Luca Liu

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Why You Should Try a Local LLM Model—and How to Get Started

Introduction

In recent years, Large Language Models (LLMs) have revolutionized the way we generate text and assist with tasks such as writing, research, and more. One popular LLM is LLaMA (Large Language Model Application), which can be used to enhance the capabilities of your favorite note-taking app, Obsidian. In this article, we will explore how to integrate a local LLM model like LLaMA into Obsidian on a Mac.

Why use local LLM models?

general advantages:

  1. Privacy: Local models don't send your data to the cloud, so you can be sure that your data is safe and secure.
  2. Speed: Local models are faster than cloud models, so you can get your results faster.
  3. Cost: Local models are cheaper than cloud models, so you can save money.
  4. Control: Local models are more customizable than cloud models, so you can tailor them to your needs.

big advantage for developers:

  1. if you are good at deploying or building LLM models, it's definitely a highlight in your resume.
  2. most of people chat with ChatGPT in browser, it's nothing special. local LLM is a cooler way and maybe in the future, it will be more popular.

How to use local LLM models in mac

1. Download and install

LM Studio is a tool designed for interacting with local Large Language Models (LLMs). It allows users to chat with these models directly on their machines, providing a more private, faster, and cost-effective alternative to cloud-based solutions.

LM Studio

2. Download LLaMA model

To select a model, first, consider your specific use case and requirements, such as the type of tasks you want to perform and the model's capabilities. Next, evaluate the hardware specifications of your system to ensure compatibility with the model you choose.

Regarding my computer and the model I'm using: I have a MacBook Pro with an M3 chip, 36GB of RAM, and a 2TB SSD. Running the Llama-3.2-3B-Instruct-4bit model on this setup is very smooth and efficient.

LLaMA

3. chat with LLaMA

you can chat with LLaMA in LM Studio.

4. other use cases

use local LLM in Obsidian.
use python code to call local LLM model.
fine tuning local LLM model to your own use case.
Automatically organize and summarize notes.
Automatically generate daily/weekly plans.
and more...

Conclusion

It's easy to use local LLM models and it has unlimited potential in the future. As a developer and a life hacker, do you also think the traditional way of interacting with AI is outdated? Let's dive into the fun of local LLM models!


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