An AI assistant that works directly on the Mac, without sending prompts and files to a cloud provider, is now available. It is called Local Code and was developed by the makers of Draw Things. The software is open source and lets users download an AI model and start working right away, without installing the tools the model needs separately.
When a local model is used, the app processes prompts and files on the computer. Users who prefer can connect a cloud model, but in that case prompts and relevant files are sent to the chosen provider. Local use is free; cloud access, through users' own API keys or prepaid credits, starts at $9.99.
Image: releases.drawthings.ai — https://releases.drawthings.ai/p/local-code-by-draw-things-open-source
Local Code can create presentations, generate images and videos, analyze spreadsheets and work with Word and PowerPoint files. It also includes a browser the assistant can use to navigate websites and complete online tasks. With the user's permission, it can read information from Mail, Messages and Notes and make changes in Calendar. According to the project's description, Apple's App Sandbox restricts the app's access to files and other parts of the system.
Which model to choose
The app offers Qwen and DeepSeek models, with requirements that depend on the Mac's memory. For Qwen 3.8 27B the website lists 16 GB as the minimum, and downloads take about 10 to 21 GB of storage. The larger DeepSeek models require about 89 GB or 376 GB, depending on the version.
Local Code follows a development that began on September 12. A version is already available, while the developers say a Mac App Store release is coming soon, without a precise date.
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