What Mac Do You Need to Run Daryl?

September 4, 2026 · By Michel Valenzuela, Founder of Daryl

If an AI runs on your own computer, the first practical question is straightforward:

Will it work on the Mac you already have?

That deserves a clear answer before you purchase anything.

Daryl is currently in development, and its final hardware and macOS requirements have not yet been announced. This article explains what determines compatibility and what I want our published requirements to tell you when they are ready.

My advice at this stage is to wait for verified compatibility information before buying a computer specifically for Daryl.

Running locally puts your Mac to work

Daryl is being developed to process its core AI conversations on your computer.

That means your Mac supplies the memory and processing resources needed for those interactions. The application, its models, and the features you use all contribute to the workload.

Compatibility therefore involves more than whether the application opens.

Can it load the required models? Can it respond at a practical pace? Does voice work reliably? Can you use it alongside the other applications you depend on?

Those are the questions that matter in everyday use.

Memory is part of the picture

An AI model needs memory while it is running.

The application also needs resources for the conversation and any additional components involved. Voice interaction, for example, may require speech recognition and spoken playback alongside the model generating a response.

Your other applications share the available resources.

A Mac running Daryl alone is a different working environment from a Mac with a browser, a design application, a video call, and several documents open.

That is why I want compatibility guidance to account for a realistic working day.

A minimum memory figure should describe a configuration we have tested. Recommended memory should give people a clearer idea of what supports a more comfortable experience.

The processor matters, too

The model and the software need to work effectively with the hardware available.

Different Macs can offer different processing capabilities, and an application may depend on features available only on particular hardware or macOS versions.

A newer computer is not automatically a supported computer. An older computer should not be ruled out without checking the requirements.

The useful information is a tested support statement: which configurations can run the intended experience and what limitations apply.

For Daryl, those details will come from verification of the release build.

Storage includes more than the application

Local AI can involve downloading model files in addition to the application itself.

People should know how much space the complete installation requires before starting. If voice resources or optional components require additional downloads, their sizes should be explained separately.

Updates can also need temporary space while files are downloaded and replaced.

A useful storage requirement should help you complete installation and maintain the application. Quoting only the size of the app would leave out part of the arrangement.

Voice needs its own compatibility checks

Typing and voice place different demands on an assistant.

A text conversation may work well while voice exposes a problem with speech recognition, audio processing, or playback. Microphone permissions also need to work correctly.

For that reason, support for the application should be accompanied by clear information about voice support.

Which languages are available? Are the required resources installed locally? Are there differences between the typing and voice experience on supported configurations?

Those answers should be specific to the released product.

What our compatibility guidance needs to cover

When Daryl’s requirements are final, I want people to be able to find the following information easily:

Those details should make the purchase decision easier.

If a configuration is unsupported or has meaningful limitations, that should be stated clearly.

Use your existing computer as the starting point

Before considering new hardware, identify the Mac you already own.

Its model, chip or processor, memory, macOS version, and available storage give you the information needed to compare it with published requirements.

You can find the main hardware and operating system details through About This Mac.

Once Daryl’s requirements are available, compare those details directly. If your configuration falls outside the verified list, it is better to ask than assume.

There is no reason to turn interest in a new application into a hardware purchase before the compatibility question is settled.

What I’m working toward

Daryl is a personal AI for Mac, designed around local conversation and support for decisions.

My goal is to make that experience approachable, including the practical work of getting it onto your computer and understanding what it needs.

That requires testing the complete application in realistic conditions. Final requirements will reflect the experience we can support.

For now, keep your current Mac as the starting point. We will publish verified compatibility information before asking you to rely on Daryl.