AI Is Too Expensive? I Run It for Free on My Laptop (Here's How)
A medical student's guide to using AI without paying a cent in subscription fees.
I remember the exact moment I gave up on AI.
It was January 2026. I was staring at ChatGPT Pro's $200/month price tag, then at my bank account. A medical student in China — my monthly budget for "extras" was about enough for two bubble teas.
"AI is for rich people," I thought. "Or people whose companies pay for it."









