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On Device vs Cloud LLMs

MediumGenerative AI & LLMs00:00
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Problem

Scenario

You are adding an LLM-powered feature to a mobile app and deciding between two approaches. One option is a small, quantized model that runs directly on Android or iOS. The other is calling a larger hosted model through Vertex AI APIs. The choice affects latency, privacy, offline behavior, quality, and how much control you have over updates.

Question

Contrast the trade-offs of running a small, quantized LLM locally on an Android or iOS device versus calling a larger cloud model via Vertex AI APIs. What factors would drive your decision, and when would you prefer a hybrid approach?