Tired of complex AI installs? Try Pinokio

How FaceFusion turned my computer into an AI playground.

Looking for a way to experiment with AI tools without being a developer or experienced coder? Then Pinokio might be just what the doctor ordered. Even better, it runs on your own computer, so you can keep your privacy intact. 

Pinokio is a powerful open source tool that combines automation with the simplicity of a browser interface. Designed for developers and curious tinkerers alike, it reimagines what a browser can do. Instead of just navigating the internet, you can use it to install and launch AI apps that would normally require technical skill.

With Pinokio, you can install, run, and automate AI tools directly on your machine. Anything that normally runs in a terminal can be simplified through Pinokio scripts, all within a clean and user-friendly interface. You can use it to manage installed apps, build workflows, and explore new tools. Support is easy to find, too. Check out @cocktailpeanut on X or join the Pinokio Discord to ask questions and get help. The project is open source and with an MIT license.

Read more: AI agents are here—are your skills ready?

Pinokio provides clear installation instructions for Windows, macOS, and Linux. I tested it on both Linux and macOS. Linux users can choose between .deb or .rpm packages, or compile from source. On macOS, I installed Pinokio on my M3 MacBook Air. The Apple Silicon setup takes a few extra steps, but the documentation made it easy to follow.

Once installed, Pinokio sets up its environment automatically on first launch. After that, I was ready to explore. At the top of the browser interface, there is a “Discover” button that brings up a list of available AI apps. You can browse, install, and launch them with ease.

There are dozens of certified AI apps available to install. With so many options, it was hard to choose. My Linux desktop has an i7 and 64 GB of RAM, but it lacks a GPU. I knew that would slow down any AI processing, so I used my M3 MacBook with 16 GB RAM instead. My first pick was FaceFusion, a face-swapping and enhancement tool that uses an Open RAIL-S license.

Installing FaceFusion with Pinokio was simple. I clicked the “One-Click Install” button and waited for the app to download. Once installed, it launched directly from the browser interface.

After launching, I selected “Run Default” and was greeted with a clean, easy-to-use menu.

FaceFusion ran on port 7860, right on my local machine, for example: localhost:7860.

I decided to have some fun with it. I used another AI tool to generate an image of a younger version of myself, back when I had blonde hair and blue eyes. Then I uploaded a recent photo taken earlier this year.

About five seconds after clicking the “Start” button, I had a new version of my face. Maybe someday someone will create HairFusion too. In the meantime, FaceFusion gave me a fun and easy way to experiment with AI-powered photo tools.

If you’re curious about AI but not ready to dive into complex installations or coding, Pinokio is a great way to get started. Explore the Discover tab, try out different apps, and see what you can create.

More from We Love Open Source

• What is Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the three things it does well
• AI isn’t scary—lack of knowledge is. Here’s how to stay ahead
• Discover Goose: Automate your developer setup with this AI agent
• Why AI agents are the future of web navigation
• AI agents are here—are your skills ready?

This article is adapted from “Simplifying local AI with Pinokio” by Don Watkins, and is republished with permission from the author.