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AI at home testing. A few questions.

catch22catch22
in Off-Topic
Spoke with my very smart nephew about AI. He has played with the Chinese Deep Seek, as well as other similar programs. He states that DS is very different and interesting.
As I'm 'curious' about that world, I'm considering buying an inexpensive Chromebook to contain playing with these programs with a designated computer. The linkage exception is the use of the same Wi-Fi router.
Two questions: Have any of you fiddled around with the AI programs; and any suggestions about Chromebooks and limitations of functions? The cheapest I find right now are less than $300.
Did I miss something about this subject?
Thank you.
Catch

Comments

  • Old_JoeOld_Joe
    @Catch22- This is going to be really interesting. Be sure to keep us on top of whatever you find.

    Thanks much- OJ
  • DrVenture
    edited June 26
    I know that @rforno is likely the best resource on this forum for questions about anything computer related, especially security. Which, I gather, is your biggest concern. I hesitate to drag him into something that is essentially "work related", but he may be able to provide a pointer or two.
  • Old_JoeOld_Joe
    Good suggestion!
  • rforno
    edited June 26
    I'm not familiar w/DeepSeek specifically but a Chromebook isn't going to be powerful enough to run an AI tool on its own. Sure, you could probably log into DeepSeek or ChatGPT via the browser and play w/it via the web interface on the Chromebook, but you could do that on pretty much any modern device. If just tinkering around, that's probably all you need ... for that matter, there's not much of a security/privacy risk using your main computer* on it, just don't go uploading any sensitive documents/photos that you don't want added to the Great AI Slop Machine(tm). :)

    Heck, I have high-end Mac desktops and laptops and even they struggle with some of the larger models I might load into an "AI client" -- some of them my AI tools won't even *load* because they know the requirements are too much!

    (Your wifi router shouldn't matter.)

    * use a different browser than your regular one, if you're feeling particularly paranoid.
  • DrVenture
    I might add (for the sake of conversation) that the biggest bottleneck to running resource heavy applications locally is usually the GPU (video components). Short of an expensive gaming PC, most do not have the GPU capabilities (calculations) necessary for such tools/operations. Decent GPUs cost $1000 and upwards.

    This one is $18,000 - https://www.newegg.com/asus-rog-astral-rog-astral-rtx5090-o32g-dhahab-edition-geforce-rtx-5090-32gb-video-cards-triple-fans/p/1FT-000Y-00BZ2?Item=9SIBP4YKG01985

    But hey, Free returns!
  • Observant1
    edited June 26
    I shopped on Newegg "back in the day"—component availability and prices were excellent then.
    I'm not a gamer which has helped to reduce spending on performance GPUs over the years.
  • MarkMark
    @catch22 - try this FWIW

    https://www.barrons.com/articles/chatgpt-gemini-grok-claude-ranked-how-to-use-fb05b409?st=XdNW6D&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink
  • catch22catch22
    Thanks @DrVenture for tagging @rforno . He is one here for this type of knowledge.

    I re-read my initial post. I should have taken a nap before writing, as it lacks clarity.

    I don't want to download and run the program. I want to only ask questions. My nephew has the 'app' on a smartphone. He visits the site for a 'questions only' of the site.

    This was the intent about using a Chromebook only for this purpose. No site visits from the main laptop at home.

    I had a great 'how to text' page that I deleted. But, there are a lot of videos and related.
    I'll do some more digging.

    Lastly, our daughter has a serious gaming desktop she stopped using. Maybe I'll grab that.

    Thanks to all for the notes. Add more when the thought comes about.
    Catch


  • catch22catch22
    Hi @Mark Thank you. I watched a Bloomberg program last week or so, discussing 'Anthropic' (the CEO?). I'll find the link.
  • DrVenture
    Yes, and rforno was right on top of that distinction, as I suspected that he would be. I have a tech background, but mainly hardware and am not up-to-date on AI at all.
  • DrVenture
    edited June 26
    Observant1 said:

    I shopped on Newegg "back in the day"—component availability and prices were excellent then.
    I'm not a gamer which has helped to reduce spending on performance GPUs over the years.

    Haha, the cycle of building gaming rigs, and immediately eyeing the next generation of hardware can get expensive and obsessive. I really enjoyed that process. Hard to justify it anymore. I mostly liked doing it with my son.
  • catch22catch22
    Hi @Observant1 and @DrVenture Newegg, oh ya. One wonders how many companies were listed, back in the day, where one could shop to put together your own pc. We should have given more attention to Nvidia as an investment, versus GPU quality.:)

    And Dr, my background is also tech. The knowledge base was ever changing, but wouldn't have changed much with the career.
  • hank
    edited June 26
    Good thread. I’ve been reluctant to install an AI app on any device used to access financial accounts - or even financial information. What assurance do I have that it will not break into any data / passwords / personal information on the device and use the information in some adverse manner? Why let it in the gate and chance it?

    On the other hand many - probably far wealthier than I - do seem to use AI successfully. And I’ve yet to hear of AI exceeding the bounds of propriety. (Like letting a carpet installer enter your home when you’re not around). So my fears would seem overblown. I like @Catch22’s thinking as much as I can follow it. Sounds like he wants to play with AI on a device not linked to his personal information.

    BTW - Bing (owned by Microsoft) used to allow anyone who did a search use AI in some fashion. And the results, even two years ago, were stunning. Lately I’ve found it hard to get that sort of free ride. They want you to have an account with them with the personal disclosures such accounts demand..
  • rforno
    @catch22, I am less concerned about using AI in your web browser. You control that experience easily enough, so I wouldn't buy a new computer just for that. I am more concerned with AI being turned on in programs (eg, MS Office, email clients, browsers, etc) without telling users ... if you thought keeping track of Facebook privacy preferences was a mountain to climb, I presume the world ain't seen anything yet.

    If you REALLY want to be freaked out, forget about AI. Go look up the new built-in 'Microsoft Recall' and think of all the places (doctors, schools, drug stores, insurance companies, brokerages, etc) that use Microsoft Windows where your data may get slurped off of remote systems in the name of efficiency and backup (and AI).
  • catch22catch22
    Hi @rforno Thank you for the 'Recall' info. I find claims of being able to 'disable' but not remove the program (Windows Home), and that it is NOT ENABLED by default. I'll look through the system.
    With the exceptions of all one can do may do today (Youtube, etc.,etc.) I think I had as much fun with Windows XP, Service Pack 2 cruising the internet.:)
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