Local deployment expands into edge robotics, mobile apps, tiny models, and distributed personal infrastructure

Local AI is spreading across workstations, Apple Silicon, RTX systems, phones, browsers, homelabs, and private coding agents. Recent phone testing showed that local Gemma can have comparable moment-to-moment battery draw to cloud use but much worse latency and at least one simple accuracy failure; Tailscale-style mesh access also shows how private models can be reached remotely without public endpoint exposure. Real-device throughput, loading time, thermals, battery, reliability, authentication, and permissions remain decisive.