Why I Run AI Models Locally (and How You Can — Even With No GPU)

Cloud AI tools filter your prompts, charge per image, and see everything you make. Running models locally fixes all three — and you might not even need a GPU. In this video we cover checkpoints, workflows, VAEs and text encoders in plain English, compare the 4 best apps for running models locally (Promptus, ComfyUI, Diffusion Bee, Pinokio), and pick the best image model (Z-Image Turbo, with Flux for quality) and video models (Wan 2.2, LTX 2.3). Plus: how to do all of this with NO GPU using free cloud options. Try Promptus Cosy templates in your browser: https://app.promptus.ai/ Full LTX 2.3 tutorial:    • LTX 2 Is the BEST Open-Source Video Genera...   Comment your GPU and we'll tell you what you can run. Chapters 0:03 Why run AI locally? 0:30 Freedom: no content filters 1:07 Privacy & zero cost per image 1:38 Minimum hardware (RTX 3060 / M1) 2:05 Checkpoints, workflows & apps explained 3:20 Checkpoints: Z-Image, Flux & sizes 4:05 Workflows & sharing 4:45 VAEs & text encoders 6:00 App 1: Promptus 7:00 App 2: ComfyUI Desktop 8:00 App 3: Diffusion Bee (Mac) 8:20 App 4: Pinokio 8:40 Best model: Z-Image Turbo 9:50 One-click install vs manual 10:00 Speed vs quality: Z-Image vs Flux 10:40 Local video: Wan 2.2 & LTX 2.3 11:00 No GPU? Free cloud options 12:10 Try it in your browser local AI, run AI locally, ComfyUI tutorial, Flux model, Z-Image Turbo, Stable Diffusion local, AI image generation free, local video generation, Wan 2.2, LTX 2.3, Promptus, ComfyUI vs, VRAM for AI, free GPU Colab, RunPod tutorial, AI without GPU, checkpoint workflow VAE, best local AI models 2026