How to Replace Siri with a Free Local Model

In this guide, you will download a free AI model to your iPhone and connect it to your phone’s Action Button like Siri. After setup, the model runs locally, so you can use it without an internet connection and without sending private prompts to a cloud service. The initial setup requires internet access and may take a few minutes while the model files download.

• iPhone users with an Action Button who want a better assistant shortcut than Siri
• Privacy-focused users who want more AI tasks to run on-device
• People curious about local AI who want an easy first model to test
• Anyone who wants a quick voice assistant for explaining concepts, translating text, or working through small tasks

You will turn your iPhone’s Action Button into a shortcut for an AI assistant that runs on your phone without needing internet or cellular connection after the model is downloaded.

• A Locally AI model downloaded onto your iPhone
• Locally AI Voice Mode connected to the Action Button
• A local voice assistant you can test with practical prompts

• An iPhone with an Action Button, such as an iPhone 15 or newer
• The Locally AI app
• 3+ gigabytes of storage space
• Internet access for the initial model download
• Wi‑Fi recommended for downloading several-gigabyte models

• Once the newest Gemma model is working, download a bigger model and run the same prompt through both. The point is not just to pick the “best” model in theory, but to find the model that is useful enough, fast enough, and private enough for the tasks you actually want a phone assistant to handle.

• Compare how fast each model responds
• Compare how much storage each model takes
• Compare how accurate the answers are
• Compare which one sounds better out loud