AI model families: Meta's Llama (open source)

Llama is Meta's AI model and you can download the actual model weights. That means hobbyists, researchers, and small companies can run real AI without paying OpenAI. It's a big deal for the field.

Some examples

• Run Llama on your laptop with Ollama
• Use Llama-based tools that don't ship your data anywhere
• Build a Discord bot that runs locally
• Compare Llama 3 vs Llama 4 quality

Try it!

Install Ollama. Download a small Llama model. Ask it a question — entirely on your laptop, no internet needed for the answer. Wild, right?

Practice this safely

Try this with a school, hobby, or family example where the stakes are low. Use the AI output as a draft you can question, not as the final answer.

1. 1Ask AI to explain open weights in plain language, then underline anything that sounds uncertain or too broad.
2. 2Give it one detail from "AI model families: Meta's Llama (open source)" and ask for two possible next steps plus one reason each step might be wrong.
3. 3Check open source AI against a trusted source, teacher, adult, expert, or original document before you use it.