Running AI chatbots on your own laptop

When: 19 May 2025, 9:30 - 13:00
Where: Smitsborg at Zernike, room 5431-0017-Zebra

Running AI chatbots on your own laptop

Artificial Intelligence (AI) transforms our work lives, offering innovative tools to streamline processes and enhance productivity. Particularly, AI chatbots (e.g., ChatGPT), or Large Language Models (LLMs), have become powerful tools in text processing, data analysis, and problem-solving. Traditionally, AI chatbots are accessed through the browser. However, this risks leaking sensitive data to large enterprises like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft. So, why not run these models on your own laptop and keep all data on your device without the need to upload data to the cloud?

Why should you attend?

In this workshop, you will discover different platforms for running AI chatbots on your own laptop. You will learn the pros and cons of each platform, gain insights into their unique features, and be helped to select the most suitable platform for your needs; for beginner, intermediate, and advanced users. During the hands-on session, you can set up and try the platforms with the help of the teacher. This workshop is accessible to everyone; no technical background is required. However, having experience using AI chatbots, such as ChatGPT, can be helpful.

Who should attend?

This course is for everyone wanting to learn how to run AI chatbots on their own laptop.

• No prior knowledge is required, but a dream of what you’d like to do with AI chatbots is useful.

Content

This workshop will introduce and show different platforms for running AI chatbots on your laptop.
✅ Introduction to various platforms for running AI chatbots locally.
✅ Learn the useful features of each platform.
✅ How to install each platform on your laptop.
✅ Demo: how to use the platforms.
✅ Hands-on learning: try out running AI chatbots on your laptop.

The first 60 - 90 minutes of the workshop will be a presentation and discussion session, during which you will learn the basics of the platforms and how to install and use them. The remaining time will be dedicated to hands-on learning, during which you can try the platforms under the guidance of experts. 

Preparation

• The workshop requires no preparation.
• It is recommended that you bring your own laptop. If you don’t have a laptop, please contact t.j.van.mourik@rug.nl so we can arrange one for you.

Result

By the end of this workshop, you will know how to run AI chatbots on your own laptop and how you can use them for your work (and daily life). This workshop is designed to engage participants actively, with opportunities for collaborative exploration and plenty of time to ask questions and get feedback.

Trainer

This course will be given by Theo van Mourik.

Enrollment and course fee

Attendance is free for UG staff and PhD-students, but registration is required.

More information

For more questions on the workshop and AI tool support you can mail the trainer and coordinator Theo van Mourik (t.j.van.mourik@rug.nl).