Apple's Claris subsidiary is testing an app called Harbor, which turns Apple silicon Macs into a private AI server.Harbor works with a single Apple silicon Mac, but it also supports connecting multiple Mac computers over Thunderbolt 5 to pool unified memory for larger models.Apple added RDMA over Thunderbolt 5 with macOS Tahoe 26.2, making clustering faster.
Harbor detects devices connected over Thunderbolt 5 and lets users browse for, download, and load open-weight models.It's described as an easy-to-use app with no manual configuration required.Harbor is in early access and is not publicly available.
There was an App Store listing, but it has now been removed.Claris is known for its database platform FileMaker, which is aimed at businesses, so it isn't clear how Apple will market the Harbor app or whether it will be free.The sign-up page for Harbor asks for a company name, which suggests more of a business focus.
There are already well-known, free alternatives for Mac users who want to run a local AI server.Exo is an open-source tool for clustering Macs, and LM Studio is available for single-Mac use, but Apple's Harbor app appears to combine LM Studio's simple interface with clustering.
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