Free & Private AI on Mac: A Complete Open Source Tutorial (Ollama + OpenWebUI + Continue.dev)

Run open-source AI models locally on your Mac for free - completely private and offline. This tutorial walks you through the full setup from download to coding assistant. Following up on my introduction to open-source AI, this is the hands-on guide. I'll show you how to install Ollama for model management, set up Open Web UI as a local ChatGPT alternative, and connect everything to VS Code with Continue.dev for AI-powered coding. By the end, you'll have a complete local AI workspace that works without internet - perfect for privacy, saving money, or working offline. ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS 0:00 – Intro: Why Run AI Locally? 0:38 – Mac System Requirements 1:44 – Installing Ollama 2:39 – Choosing the Right Model Size 3:11 – Downloading Llama 3.2 via Terminal 4:24 – Downloading Qwen 2.5 Coder 4:51 – What is Open Web UI? 5:35 – Installing Docker Desktop 6:13 – Installing Open Web UI 7:04 – Open Web UI First-Time Setup 8:06 – Using Your Local ChatGPT Interface 9:21 – VS Code + Continue.dev Setup 10:51 – Live Demo: AI Generates a Pong Game 12:07 – Final Thoughts & Limitations 🔗 RESOURCES Ollama: https://ollama.com Docker Desktop: https://docker.com Open Web UI Docs: https://docs.openwebui.com Continue.dev: https://continue.dev Perplexity (for troubleshooting): https://perplexity.ai 💻 SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Mac with M-series chip (M1/M2/M3/M4) 16GB RAM recommended 15GB+ storage space If you run into any issues during setup, use Perplexity to troubleshoot! #OpenSourceAI #Ollama #LocalAI #MacSetup #AIPrivacy #ContinueDev