Jun Kim, creator of the oMLX project, joins Hugging Face full-time
Jun Kim, the creator of the oMLX project, has become a full-fledged contributor at Hugging Face and will lead its further development. The project remains under the Apache 2.0 license, and the goal is to speed up the conversion of transformers models to the MLX format for local execution on Apple Silicon.
Jun Kim, the creator and maintainer of the oMLX project, has become a full-fledged contributor at Hugging Face to lead further development of the project. According to Hugging Face, oMLX has so far been a side project for Jun Kim, and the move to a fully funded position is intended to enable him to better coordinate contributors and plan development over the long term. The oMLX project remains under the Apache 2.0 license, and Jun Kim continues to lead it as before.
MLX is a framework from Apple for running AI locally, optimized primarily for Apple Silicon chips. According to Hugging Face, the main priority is to speed up the conversion of model definitions from the transformers library into reference implementations for MLX, which various engines can then use. Collaboration is set to continue with the mlx-lm and mlx-vlm projects and the LMStudio tool.
The stated goal of Hugging Face is to support the community in running local AI in any form and provide the necessary tools and building blocks. Hugging Face states in the text that it is a long-standing supporter of MLX and that its Hub serves as a place where users find MLX models.
Why it matters
The move of a key developer to a fully funded position reduces the risk that an important open-source tool for local AI on Apple Silicon will be left without adequate maintenance, and suggests that new models in the MLX format will become available sooner for tools such as LMStudio.
Two audiences, two different impacts
What this means
For individuals
Developers working with local models on Apple Silicon can expect faster and more reliable conversion of models from the transformers library to the MLX format, because this work will now be done in a paid full-time role rather than as a side project.
More practical updates →For a business
Companies building local AI products on Apple Silicon are getting a signal that the MLX ecosystem (supported by Hugging Face) will continue to receive professional development, reducing the risk of depending on an unpaid side project.
Development More business impacts →Check the original
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