Offline AI on Raspberry Pi 5

Imagine having a personal assistant that doesn’t need the internet! In Jdaie Lin’s recent YouTube video, “Offline AI on Raspberry Pi 5 — It Talks, Thinks locally without Wi-Fi!”, published on October 30, 2025, Lin demonstrates how to build a fully offline AI using a Raspberry Pi 5. This project integrates Whisper for listening, Ollama for processing, and Piper for speaking, all without an internet connection. The setup is powered by a Whisplay HAT and a PiSugar 3 Plus battery, making it portable and independent as well.

As Lin dives into the assembly, he employs practical tips for setting up the hardware, such as bending the fan pin and using a stackable GPIO header to accommodate the Whisplay hat. This meticulous attention to detail ensures that the AI assistant operates smoothly. The software aspect is no different, with precise instructions for installing essential drivers and configuring the software environment, making it accessible for beginners.

While the video effectively supports offline AI’s potential benefits, such as enhanced privacy and independence from internet connectivity, the project also highlights technical challenges, especially for inexperienced users. Setting up devices like the Raspberry Pi for such sophisticated functions necessitates patience and a bit of technical savvy.

Despite these complexities, the possibility of having an AI assistant with privacy guaranteed by its offline nature is compelling. Such applications might reassure individuals hesitant about privacy over Wi-Fi networks. Yet, the video could gain by addressing more about optimizing performance, especially since running these programs on a Raspberry Pi can be resource-intensive and potentially lead to overheating problems, even with a cooler.

Lin’s enthusiasm about the future of self-contained, offline AI devices infuses the video with a sense of innovation. His tutorial provides a practical pathway for tech enthusiasts interested in exploiting AI’s capabilities without internet dependency. For detailed guidance, you can explore the GitHub repositories linked in the description, offering structured resources and additional context.