Local LLMs and the Benefits of Running Models on Consumer Hardware

Running large language models (LLMs) on consumer hardware, known as local LLMs, enables new ways of using the technology. Local LLMs offer benefits such as customization, information security, and finding new product market fit. Unlike the common perception of running LLMs on various devices, the main advantage of local models lies in their ability to solve latency issues, allowing for more efficient communication. For example, optimizing latency in chat GPT apps involves reducing inference time, tuning batch sizes, minimizing wireless communication, and considering audio rendering location. By running LLMs locally, these potential bottlenecks can be avoided, making local models a simpler and more effective solution.