Your Mac has a free AI chatbot hiding in plain sight — here's how to use it
Your Mac has a free AI chatbot built right in. Here's how to find Apple's hidden local AI model and use it without a subscription.
Apple has quietly introduced a free AI chatbot feature in their macOS 27 Golden Gate system, available on Macs with Apple silicon. This built-in tool, called Apple Foundation Models CL I or simply fm, allows users to run an AI model directly on their Mac, eliminating the need for a subscription, separate app, or internet connection.
To access the feature, users simply need to open Terminal, verify they have Apple Intelligence enabled and the necessary models downloaded, and then use the fm chat command to start a conversation with the AI model. While it's primarily aimed at developers, everyday Mac users can also benefit from this feature by asking questions, brainstorming ideas, or rewriting text.
One major advantage is privacy, as the AI processes requests locally, keeping information out of the cloud. However, the tool has limitations, including difficulty with complex reasoning, lengthy conversations, and lack of access to current internet information. Moreover, not all Macs support the feature, as it requires macOS 27, Apple silicon, and compatible hardware.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Guide's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
