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What is Backend.AI GO?

Backend.AI GO is a cross-platform desktop application that simplifies the process of running Large Language Models (LLMs) locally. It bridges the gap between complex AI backend technologies and a user-friendly desktop experience.

The Problem with Cloud AI

Most popular AI services today (like ChatGPT or Claude 4.5) are "Cloud-only." This comes with several drawbacks:

  • Privacy: Your conversations and data are sent to external servers.

  • Cost: You often have to pay monthly subscriptions or per-token fees.

  • Internet Dependency: If your connection goes down, so does your AI.

  • Control: You have limited control over the specific model version or parameters used.

The Backend.AI GO Solution

Backend.AI GO allows you to reclaim control by running these models on your own hardware.

High-Performance Inference

By utilizing specialized backends like llama.cpp and Apple's MLX, Backend.AI GO ensures that models run as fast as possible on your hardware, whether you have a dedicated NVIDIA GPU or a modern Mac.

Unified Experience

It integrates model discovery (from Hugging Face), downloading, loading, and a modern chat interface into a single application. You don't need to know how to use a terminal or compile code to get started.

Beyond Chat: Agents & MCP

Backend.AI GO isn't just for chatting. It includes an Agent System that allows the AI to use tools—like searching the web or reading files—to accomplish tasks. It also supports the Model Context Protocol (MCP), a standard for connecting AI models to any external data source or service.

Backend.AI GO vs. Backend.AI

It is important to distinguish Backend.AI GO from its parent project, Backend.AI.

What is Backend.AI?

Backend.AI (Backend.AI Core/Enterprise) is a comprehensive AI Infrastructure Operating System. It is designed to manage massive GPU clusters for enterprises and research institutions.

  • Infrastructure Engine: Orchestrates thousands of GPUs across multiple nodes.

  • Multi-Tenant: Serves many users simultaneously with secure isolation.

  • Heavy Lifting: Handles model training (fine-tuning), large-scale serving, and MLOps pipelines.

What is Backend.AI GO?

Backend.AI GO is the desktop client and personal AI runtime.

  • AI on PC: Runs models directly on your laptop or workstation.

  • No-Code AI: Provides an easy-to-use interface for chat and agents without needing infrastructure knowledge.

  • The Bridge: It works standalone but can also connect to a Backend.AI Cluster. This allows you to seamlessly offload heavy tasks (like running a Solar-Open-100B or Qwen3-235b-a22b model) from your laptop to the cluster while keeping the same user experience.

Who is it for?

  • Developers: Use it as a local, private backend for building AI-powered applications.

  • Researchers: Experiment with different models and quantization levels locally.

  • Content Creators: Generate and process text privately and without subscription costs.

  • Enterprise Users: Deploy AI capabilities within a secure, local network environment.

Next, let's get you set up with our Quickstart Guide.