Local Code Launches as Free, Private AI Assistant Tool for Mac

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. Local Code can create presentations, generate images and videos, analyze spreadsheets, work with Word and PowerPoint files, and more. It also includes a browser that the assistant can use to navigate websites and complete online tasks. With the user's permission, the app can read information from Mail, Messages, and Notes, as well as make changes in Calendar and Photos. According to its documentation, Apple's App Sandbox restricts its access to files and other parts of the system. The app offers Qwen and DeepSeek models for Macs with different amounts of memory. Its website lists 16GB as the minimum for Qwen 3.8 27B, with recommended downloads taking around 10GB to 21GB of storage. The larger DeepSeek models require downloads of around 89GB or 376GB, depending on the version. Users can also choose a cloud model, although doing so sends prompts and relevant files to the selected provider. Local use is free, while optional cloud access is available through users' own API keys or prepaid credits starting at $9.99. Local Code follows a public beta that began on September 12. A direct Mac download is available now, and the developers say a Mac App Store release is coming soon. Popular StoriesApple Announces OLED MacBook Pro With Touch DisplayWednesday October 28, 2026 10:11 am PDT by Juli CloverApple today announced a new high-end MacBook Pro, which is available in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes. The new device has a PROLED XDR display that supports touch gestures, and a glowing rear Apple logo. Pricing on the MacBook Pro starts at $2,899 for the 14-inch model and $3,399 for the 16-inch model. Apple says the MacBook Pro has the "world's best display in a pro laptop." The PROLED...Apple Announces New 14-Inch MacBook Pro With M6 ChipApple today announced a refreshed 14-inch MacBook Pro featuring the M6 chip, upgraded connectivity specifications, and more. The M6 chip in the MacBook Pro features a 12-core CPU with 2 super cores, 4 performance cores, and 6 efficiency cores, paired with a 12-core GPU. This is up from the M5 chip with a 10-core CPU with 4 super cores and 6 efficiency cores, paired with a 10-core GPU. M6...Apple Executive Comments on New iPad Mini Lacking 120Hz DisplayThursday October 29, 2026 1:47 pm PDT by Joe RossignolWhile the new iPad mini has an OLED display, the device does not support ProMotion, meaning the display's refresh rate is limited to 60Hz instead of 120Hz. ProMotion support would have allowed for the iPad mini's refresh rate to automatically adjust from 10Hz to 120Hz depending on the content being displayed, but evidently Apple has kept the feature exclusive to the iPad Pro among iPad...