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Geeky Gadgets
2 hours ago
- Geeky Gadgets
Build a Local n8n AI Agents for Free : Private Offline AI Assistant
What if you could harness the power of advanced AI models without ever relying on external servers or paying hefty subscription fees? Imagine running intelligent agents directly on your own computer, with complete control over your data and workflows tailored to your exact needs. It might sound like a dream reserved for tech giants, but it's now entirely possible—and surprisingly simple. By using tools like Docker and an open source AI starter kit, you can set up a privacy-focused AI ecosystem in just two straightforward steps. Whether you're a developer, a data enthusiast, or simply curious about AI, this guide will show you how to take control of your automation journey. In this tutorial by Alex Followell, you'll discover how to install and configure a local AI environment that's both powerful and cost-free. From deploying versatile tools like n8n for workflow automation to running large language models such as Llama entirely offline, this setup offers unmatched flexibility and security. You'll also learn about the key components—like PostgreSQL for data storage and Quadrant for advanced search—that make this system robust and scalable. By the end, you'll not only have a functional AI setup but also a deeper understanding of how to customize it for your unique goals. Could this be the most empowering step toward AI independence? Let's explore. Run AI Locally Guide 1: Install Docker The first step to creating your local AI environment is to install Docker, a robust container management platform that allows you to run and manage isolated software environments on your computer. Docker Desktop is recommended for most users due to its intuitive interface and cross-platform compatibility. Download Docker Desktop from the official Docker website. Follow the installation instructions for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux). Verify the installation by opening a terminal and running the command docker --version . Docker acts as the backbone of your local AI setup, making sure that all components operate seamlessly within isolated containers. Once installed, you'll use Docker to deploy and manage the tools required for your AI workflows. 2: Clone the AI Starter Kit After installing Docker, the next step is to download the AI starter kit from GitHub. This repository contains pre-configured tools and scripts designed to simplify the setup process and get you up and running quickly. Visit the GitHub repository hosting the AI starter kit. Clone the repository to your local machine using the terminal command git clone [repository URL] . . Navigate to the cloned directory and follow the setup instructions provided in the repository's documentation. This step involves configuring your environment, setting up workflows, and integrating the necessary components. By the end of this process, your system will be equipped to run AI models and manage data locally, giving you a powerful and flexible AI solution. Run Local n8n AI Agents for Free Watch this video on YouTube. Browse through more resources below from our in-depth content covering more areas on local AI agents. Key Components Installed Locally Once the setup is complete, several essential components will be installed on your machine. These tools work together to enable seamless AI automation and data processing, all within a local environment. n8n: A workflow automation platform that allows you to design and execute custom workflows tailored to your specific needs. A workflow automation platform that allows you to design and execute custom workflows tailored to your specific needs. PostgreSQL: A robust local database for securely storing workflows, credentials, and other critical data. A robust local database for securely storing workflows, credentials, and other critical data. Quadrant: A vector database optimized for document storage and advanced search capabilities, ideal for handling large datasets. A vector database optimized for document storage and advanced search capabilities, ideal for handling large datasets. Olama: A repository for running various large language models (LLMs) locally, allowing advanced natural language processing tasks. These components are hosted within Docker containers, making sure they remain isolated yet interoperable. This modular design allows you to customize your setup based on your specific goals and hardware capabilities. AI Model Options One of the most compelling features of this setup is the ability to run large language models (LLMs) locally. The AI starter kit supports several models, each optimized for different tasks, giving you the flexibility to choose the best fit for your projects. Llama: A versatile model suitable for a wide range of natural language processing tasks, including text generation and summarization. A versatile model suitable for a wide range of natural language processing tasks, including text generation and summarization. DeepSeek: An advanced model designed for search and retrieval applications, offering high accuracy and efficiency. You can select models based on your hardware capabilities and project requirements. Whether you're working on text analysis, data processing, or creative content generation, this flexibility ensures that your setup aligns with your objectives. Benefits of Running AI Locally Operating AI agents on your local machine provides numerous advantages, particularly for users who prioritize privacy, cost-efficiency, and customization. Cost-Free: There are no subscription fees or API usage costs, making this setup highly economical. There are no subscription fees or API usage costs, making this setup highly economical. Offline Functionality: Once configured, the system operates entirely offline, eliminating the need for constant internet connectivity. Once configured, the system operates entirely offline, eliminating the need for constant internet connectivity. Data Privacy: All data remains on your local machine, making sure complete control and security over sensitive information. All data remains on your local machine, making sure complete control and security over sensitive information. Customizable Workflows: With n8n, you can design workflows tailored to your unique requirements, enhancing productivity and efficiency. This approach is particularly beneficial for individuals and organizations seeking a self-contained AI solution that doesn't depend on external services or third-party platforms. Challenges to Consider While running AI agents locally offers significant benefits, it's important to be aware of the potential challenges and plan accordingly. Hardware Requirements: Running AI models can be resource-intensive, requiring a powerful CPU, sufficient RAM, and ample storage space to function effectively. Running AI models can be resource-intensive, requiring a powerful CPU, sufficient RAM, and ample storage space to function effectively. Technical Complexity: The setup process involves using terminal commands and configuring multiple components, which may be challenging for users without technical expertise. The setup process involves using terminal commands and configuring multiple components, which may be challenging for users without technical expertise. Maintenance Responsibility: You'll need to manage updates, security patches, and general system maintenance independently. By understanding these challenges and using community resources, you can overcome potential obstacles and ensure a smooth setup process. Additional Resources To help you make the most of your local AI setup, consider exploring the following resources: Community Forums: Engage with online communities focused on n8n, Docker, and AI automation to exchange knowledge and seek advice. Engage with online communities focused on n8n, Docker, and AI automation to exchange knowledge and seek advice. Tutorials: Access detailed guides on topics such as AI automation, image generation, and prompt engineering to expand your expertise. Access detailed guides on topics such as AI automation, image generation, and prompt engineering to expand your expertise. Pre-Built Templates: Use ready-made workflows and configurations to streamline your setup and save time. These resources can provide valuable insights and support, helping you navigate the complexities of deploying AI locally and unlocking its full potential. Media Credit: Alex Followell | AI Automation Filed Under: AI, Guides Latest Geeky Gadgets Deals Disclosure: Some of our articles include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, Geeky Gadgets may earn an affiliate commission. Learn about our Disclosure Policy.
WIRED
4 hours ago
- Business
- WIRED
The AI Backlash Keeps Growing Stronger
As generative artificial intelligence tools continue to proliferate, pushback against the technology and its negative impacts grows stronger. Photo-Illustration:Before Duolingo wiped its videos from TikTok and Instagram in mid-May, social media engagement was one of the language-learning app's most recognizable qualities. Its green owl mascot had gone viral multiple times and was well known to younger users—a success story other marketers envied. But, when news got out that Duolingo was making the switch to become an 'AI-first' company, planning to replace contractors who work on tasks generative AI could automate, public perception of the brand soured. Young people started posting on social media about how they were outraged at Duolingo as they performatively deleted the app—even if it meant losing the precious streak awards they earned through continued, daily usage. The comments on Duolingo's TikTok posts in the days after the announcement were filled with rage, primarily focused on a single aspect: workers being replaced with automation. The negative response online is indicative of a larger trend: Right now, though a growing number of Americans use ChatGPT, many people are sick of AI's encroachment into their lives and are ready to fight back. When reached for comment, Duolingo spokesperson Sam Dalsimer stressed that 'AI isn't replacing our staff' and said all AI-generated content on the platform would be created 'under the direction and guidance of our learning experts.' The company's plan is still to reduce its use of non-staff contractors for tasks that can be automated using generative AI. Duolingo's embrace of workplace automation is part of a broad shift within the tech industry. Leaders at Klarna, a buy now, pay later service, and Salesforce, a software company, have also made sweeping statements about AI reducing the need for new hires in roles like customer service and engineering. These decisions were being made at the same time as developers sold 'agents,' which are designed to automate software tasks, as a way to reduce the amount of workers needed to complete certain tasks. Still, the potential threat of bosses attempting to replace human workers with AI agents is just one of many compounding reasons people are critical of generative AI. Add that to the error-ridden outputs, the environmental damage, the potential mental health impacts for users, and the concerns about copyright violations when AI tools are trained on existing works. Many people were initially in awe of ChatGPT and other generative AI tools when they first arrived in late 2022. You could make a cartoon of a duck riding a motorcycle! But soon artists started speaking out, noting that their visual and textual works were being scraped to train these systems. The pushback from the creative community ramped up during the 2023 Hollywood writer's strike, and continued to accelerate through the current wave of copyright lawsuits brought by publishers, creatives, and Hollywood studios. Right now, the general vibe aligns even more with the side of impacted workers. 'I think there is a new sort of ambient animosity towards the AI systems,' says Brian Merchant, former WIRED contributor and author of Blood in the Machine , a book about the Luddites rebelling against worker-replacing technology. 'AI companies have speedrun the Silicon Valley trajectory.' Before ChatGPT's release, around 38 percent of US adults were more concerned than excited about increased AI usage in daily life, according to the Pew Research Center. The number shot up to 52 percent by late 2023, as the public reacted to the speedy spread of generative AI. The level of concern has hovered around that same threshold ever since. Ethical AI researchers have long warned about the potential negative impacts of this technology. The amplification of harmful stereotypes, increased environmental pollution, and potential displacement of workers are all widely researched and reported. These concerns were often previously reserved to academic discourse and online leftists paying attention to labor issues. As AI outputs continued to proliferate, so did the cutting jokes. Alex Hanna, coauthor of The AI Con and director of research at the Distributed AI Research Institute, mentions how people have been 'trolling' in the comment sections of YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels whenever they see AI-generated content in their feeds. 'I've seen this on the web for a while,' she says. This generalized animosity towards AI has not abated over time. Rather, it's metastasized. LinkedIn users have complained about being constantly prompted with AI-generated questions. Spotify listeners have been frustrated to hear AI-generated podcasts recapping their top-listened songs. Reddit posters have been upset to see AI-generated images on their microwavable noodles at the grocery store. Tensions are so high that even the suspicion of AI usage is now enough to draw criticism. I wouldn't be surprised if social media users screenshotted the em dashes in this piece—a supposed giveaway of AI-generated text outputs—and cast suspicions about whether I used a chatbot to spin up sections of the article. A few days after I first contacted Duolingo for comment, the company hid all of its social media videos on TikTok and Instagram. But, soon the green owl was back online with a satirical post about conspiracy theories. 'I've had it with the CEOs and those in power. It's time we show them who's in charge,' said a person wearing a three-eyed Duolingo mask. The video uploaded right afterwards was a direct message from the company's CEO attempting to explain how humans would still be working at Duolingo, but AI could help them produce more language learning courses. While the videos got millions of views on TikTok, the top comments continued to criticize Duolingo for AI-enabled automation: 'Keep in mind they are still using AI for their lessons, this doesn't change anything.' This frustration over AI's steady creep has breached the container of social media and started manifesting more in the real world. Parents I talk to are concerned about AI use impacting their child's mental health. Couples are worried about chatbot addictions driving a wedge in their relationships. Rural communities are incensed that the newly built data centers required to power these AI tools are kept humming by generators that burn fossil fuels, polluting their air, water, and soil. As a whole, the benefits of AI seem esoteric and underwhelming while the harms feel transformative and immediate. Unlike the dawn of the internet where democratized access to information empowered everyday people in unique, surprising ways, the generative AI era has been defined by half-baked software releases and threats of AI replacing human workers, especially for recent college graduates looking to find entry-level work. 'Our innovation ecosystem in the 20th century was about making opportunities for human flourishing more accessible,' says Shannon Vallor, a technology philosopher at the Edinburgh Futures Institute and author of The AI Mirror , a book about reclaiming human agency from algorithms. 'Now, we have an era of innovation where the greatest opportunities the technology creates are for those already enjoying a disproportionate share of strengths and resources.' Not only are the rich getting richer during the AI era, but many of the technology's harms are falling on people of color and other marginalized communities. 'Data centers are being located in these really poor areas that tend to be more heavily Black and brown,' Hanna says. She points out how locals have not just been fighting back online, but have also been organizing even more in-person to protect their communities from environmental pollution. We saw this in Memphis, Tennessee, recently, where Elon Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI is building a large data center with over 30 methane-gas-powered generators that are spewing harmful exhaust. The impacts of generative AI on the workforce are another core issue that critics are organizing around. 'Workers are more intuitive than a lot of the pundit class gives them credit for,' says Merchant. 'They know this has been a naked attempt to get rid of people.' The next major shift in public opinion will likely follow previous patterns, occurring when broad swaths of workers feel further threatened and organize in response. And this time, the in-person protests may be just as big as the online backlash.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Should You Buy This Stock-Split Stock Disrupting the Brokerage Market?
Interactive Brokers is gaining steam in its disruption of the stock brokerage sector. The company has world-class profit margins because of its lean operating structure and focus on automation and technology. IBKR stock looks like a buy after its latest stock split. 10 stocks we like better than Interactive Brokers Group › Smartphones have enabled investing to reach the masses, driven by the viral growth of the Robinhood Markets trading application. It now has over 25 million customers and was only incorporated in 2013. Everyone knows about Robinhood, but another disruptive stock brokerage platform is gaining rapid share of the investment community, coming at the industry from a different angle: Interactive Brokers (NASDAQ: IBKR). Known as IBKR for short, the company has grown its client equity at a rapid rate over the last decade as sophisticated investors flock to the platform. Its stock price has soared in response to these gains, leading management to split its stock on June 16. Does this make IBKR the perfect stock-split stock to add to your portfolio today? Here's why the gains for the advanced brokerage platform should continue in the years ahead. Usage of Robinhood and other simplified trading applications soared during the pandemic's height before stalling in the bear market of 2022. At the end of 2021, Robinhood had 22.7 million customer accounts, only slightly below the number of accounts it has today, and that's with aggressive marketing spend and promotional programs. Many of these customers were initially beginners, but have since turned into investors looking for a more advanced brokerage platform. This was a perfect situation for IBKR to take this small but highly valuable customer base away from Robinhood-type brokerages. Growth of active accounts on IBKR has been steady for the last decade, hitting 300,000 in 2015, 1.1 million in 2020, and 3.6 million as of its latest first-quarter update. Why is IBKR gaining market share? It's offering individuals a wide breadth of assets to trade that were historically only reserved for professional investment funds. This includes easy international trading in over 100 markets, foreign currency trading, bonds, and options, all with affordable fees and commissions. In recent years, it has tried to move both up and down market from its first core customers. It launches the IBKR Lite trading application with commission-free trades and IBKR's white glove services for large advisory firms and hedge funds. IBKR Lite is going for Robinhood customers who are just getting into investing, while the white glove service is for large professional funds that typically use legacy brokerages for trading. With 3.6 million active accounts, IBKR is nowhere near the market leader in brokerage services. This is a good thing. Over the next decade, it can take its historical playbook and keep taking market share from competitors because of its breadth of services at affordable prices. For reference, Charles Schwab has 37 million active accounts, or more than 10x IBKR's number today. This is a huge opportunity for IBKR to steadily convince investors to switch to its platform, with its wider breadth of trading capabilities. IBKR's growth has been incredible. It had client equity -- which is the total net asset value of all its customers' portfolios -- of $32.9 billion in 2012. Today, that figure has grown to $573.5 billion, or an annual growth rate of 26.3%. This not only shows that IBKR is able to convince investors to switch to its platform, but that it's more valuable revenue-wise than the average trader. Using its total client equity and total active accounts, the average IBKR account has client equity of $159,000, which is much higher than Robinhood's average account level of under $10,000. What makes this growth even more impressive is how efficiently the company operates from an expense and advertising basis. Last quarter, IBKR had a pre-tax profit margin of 74%, making it one of the most profitable businesses in the world by margin. It's able to do so because of its advanced technology capabilities that let it run automated brokerage functions, such as making margin calls on customers. It doesn't have to spend a boatload on marketing like Robinhood because of its superior product. This efficiency and growth add up to $793 million in net income generated for IBKR over the last 12 months, up over 200% in the last three years. Today, IBKR has a market cap of $22 billion. That measures the value of IBKR for its non-controlling interests that sit with the founder Thomas Peterffy and his family. It's this market value that you're buying as an outside investor. While a stock split doesn't change anything about the fundamental analysis of IBKR, I believe now is as good a time as any to buy shares of this disruptive brokerage platform. The stock currently trades at a price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 28, which does look expensive at first glance. However, investors should remember that IBKR has impressive track records of earnings growth and of acquiring clients to the platform. Today, IBKR's net income applied to common shareholders is $793 million. If that figure triples again over the next five years -- just as it has in the past three -- it will grow to around $2.4 billion, bringing the trailing P/E ratio to under 10. For those with a longer time horizon, IBKR stock looks like a wonderful buy at these prices. Buy shares, hold on tight, and wait patiently for wealth to build in your portfolio. Before you buy stock in Interactive Brokers Group, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the for investors to buy now… and Interactive Brokers Group wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $687,731!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you'd have $945,846!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 818% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 175% for the S&P 500. Don't miss out on the latest top 10 list, available when you join . See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of June 23, 2025 Charles Schwab is an advertising partner of Motley Fool Money. Brett Schafer has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Interactive Brokers Group. The Motley Fool recommends Charles Schwab and recommends the following options: long January 2027 $175 calls on Interactive Brokers Group, short January 2027 $185 calls on Interactive Brokers Group, and short June 2025 $85 calls on Charles Schwab. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Should You Buy This Stock-Split Stock Disrupting the Brokerage Market? was originally published by The Motley Fool
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Varonis (VRNS) Unlocks Real-Time Data Security with AI-Powered MCP Server
Varonis Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRNS) is one of . Varonis Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:VRNS), a leader in data security and threat detection, has introduced the Varonis Model Context Protocol (MCP) Server, a new interface that allows customers to connect their preferred AI tools directly to the Varonis Data Security Platform. The innovation marks a significant step in enabling real-time, AI-driven access to enterprise data security operations. With the MCP Server, customers can use natural language prompts through AI clients such as ChatGPT, Claude, and GitHub Copilot to query data posture, trigger remediation, and streamline compliance tasks. The server enables users to carry out complex operations with simple instructions—for example, retrieving recent high-severity alerts, updating ServiceNow tickets, or running cleanup scripts to remove inactive guest accounts. A close up of a software engineer typing on a laptop keyboard, focusing on the code development part of the company. 'Automation is at the heart of everything we do,' said Yaki Faitelson, Co-Founder and CEO of Varonis. 'The Varonis MCP Server marks another leap forward in our agentic AI vision—giving customers access to Varonis' real-time data security insights and automated remediation from their own AI tools, IDEs, agent builders, and terminals.' By embedding Athena AI in its platform and supporting cross-platform automation, Varonis continues to expand its role in modern data protection. The MCP Server furthers the company's mission to deliver secure, intelligent infrastructure that helps organizations proactively defend sensitive information and reduce compliance burdens in complex cloud environments. While we acknowledge the potential of VRNS to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than VRNS and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI NEXT: 10 Best Small Cap Tech Stocks With Biggest Upside Potential and . Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bank of America says tariffs might spark a ‘reshoring' boom—but experts say it might be a double-edged sword for the economy
Evidence of a U.S. manufacturing slowdown is mounting, according to the Bank of America Institute. Tariffs could help reduce that slowdown and bring more advanced production back stateside, but improving productivity might happen without increasing employment. President Donald Trump has been adamant his tariffs will bring factory jobs back to American shores. Higher import taxes will likely push manufacturers to move operations back to the U.S., according to Bank of America economists, but so-called reshoring might incentivize firms to put more robots than humans on the assembly line. A lack of skilled labor and high costs remain big impediments as companies come home, BofA warns. Automation might be the key to unlocking reshoring, potentially boosting the sluggish productivity of American manufacturers without meaningfully increasing employment. Evidence of a slowdown in the sector is mounting, according to a recent report from the Bank of America Institute. New orders for manufactured durable goods fell in April, while the famous manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index has signaled a contraction since March. Focusing on small businesses, BofA's internal client data shows deposit growth from manufacturers has also declined. 'It's possible, right, that these [tariffs] could support momentum going forward and potentially reverse some of that slowdown, especially for certain subsectors within the industry,' the report's author, BofA economist Taylor Bowley, told Fortune. 'But tariff costs and labor issues do exist.' Reshoring has been all the rage in corporate America after Trump's first trade war with China—and the COVID-19 pandemic—highlighted risks to global supply chains. The Biden-era CHIPS and Inflation Reduction Acts, meanwhile, heavily subsidized companies willing to make semiconductors and clean energy technology in the U.S. While U.S. manufacturing accounts for just 8% of total employment, reshoring has created 2 million jobs in the past 15 years, according to a May note from BofA economists. Half of those new positions have been created in the past five years, they noted, though the trend has slowed since peaking in 2022. In a survey of 56 analysts across the bank, covering roughly 1,200 firms worth over $38 trillion in market cap, roughly 60% said production will continue to move back to the U.S.—at least modestly—if tariffs remain high. Those following industrials and manufacturing expect the greatest shift to the U.S. There are still obstacles to coming back stateside, though. In the BofA survey, 54% of the analysts said issues finding skilled workers would be a significant impediment for companies. Higher labor costs are one of the primary reasons manufacturers shifted away from the U.S. in the first place, Bowley said. While a 2024 survey from the Cato Institute found 80% of Americans think the country would benefit from increasing manufacturing employment, just a quarter believe they would be better off individually working in a factory. If firms struggle to fill positions, Bowley said, they are forced to figure out how to improve productivity without hiring people. 'And that's where this conversation around automation and productivity comes in,' she said. Two-thirds of respondents to the BofA survey said any production shift to the U.S. would require significantly more automation than an offshore factory. That makes more advanced industries the best candidates for moving back to the U.S., BofA economists said, like auto assembly and high-end furniture. 'Millions and millions of human beings screwing in little, little screws to make iPhones,' as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick suggested? Not so much. Meanwhile, Lutnick's ability to continue making trade deals might matter most to small businesses. They account for 98% of American manufacturing, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration, and many rely on cheap imports. 'A lot of them depend on a specific part—for example, to complete their manufacturing process—that simply isn't made domestically,' Bowley said. Therefore, for smaller manufacturers, tariff uncertainty makes planning capital expenditures especially difficult, even if their products become more competitive domestically. With profit margins and productivity lagging other industries in the U.S., passing price hikes on to consumers is the obvious response. However, if firms need to absorb some of the cost to keep customers, Bowley said, reducing inventories, operations, or headcount are other potential options. 'Reshoring in that aspect for smaller firms is kind of a double-edged sword,' she said. Nonetheless, sales are expected to grow in the coming months, Bowley said. But businesses might start feeling the squeeze, she added, when inventories start running low in the second half of the year. This story was originally featured on Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
