{
  "id": 17231848,
  "title": "Local Code Launches as Free, Private AI Assistant Tool for Mac",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/local-code-launches-as-free-private-ai-assistant-tool-for-mac",
  "topic": "ai",
  "section": "AI",
  "published": "2026-10-30T13:38:25.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "MacRumors",
    "slug": "macrumors",
    "url": "https://www.macrumors.com/2026/10/30/local-code-free-private-ai-tool-for-mac/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Draw Things developers have introduced Local Code, a free open-source AI assistant tailored for Mac users. This innovative tool allows users to download AI models and operate them directly on their personal computers without the need for separate installations. By processing prompts and files locally, Local Code ensures that sensitive data remains on the user's device, rather than being transmitted to distant cloud AI providers. The versatile application excels in creating presentations, producing images and videos, analyzing spreadsheets, manipulating Word and PowerPoint documents, and much more. Additionally, a browser integrated within the assistant enables users to undertake online tasks by accessing websites when granted permission by the user.\n\nLocal Code's functionality extends to interacting with users' Mail, Messages, and Notes, and making modifications in Calendar and Photos databases. Apple's App Sandbox, however, limits the app's access to system files and other components. The developers have made available two types of AI models for Macs with varying memory capacities - Qwen, with DeepSeek models being an alternative option. The minimum storage requirement for Qwen 3.8 27B is 16GB, with actual downloads ranging between 10GB and 21GB. The larger DeepSeek models necessitate significantly more storage, with downloads amounting to approximately 89GB or 376GB, depending on the version chosen.\n\nAlthough local use remains entirely free, users have the option to leverage cloud models. These alternative models require users to input their API keys or subscribe to prepaid credits, starting at a price of $9.99. Local Code is currently in its public beta phase, which commenced on September 12, and a direct download for Mac systems is already accessible. The developers have indicated that an upcoming release in the Mac App Store is imminent. This news, titled \"Local Code Launches as Free, Private AI Assistant Tool for Mac,\" originally surfaced on MacRumors.com.",
  "summary": "The developers of Draw Things have launched Local Code , an open-source AI assistant that lets Mac users download models and put them to work on their own computers. Local Code lets users download an AI model and start working without separately installing the tools it needs. When using a local model, the app processes prompts and files on the Mac rather than sending them to a cloud AI provider.…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}