Metal
Also: Apple Metal
Apple's system that lets software use the graphics part of a Mac's chip. Local AI apps use it automatically.
The fuller definition
Metal is Apple's interface for running computation on the graphics part of a Mac's chip. Local AI engines use it to run models on Apple Silicon.
- Mac chip
Graphics cores
- Metal
The interface
- Engine
Runs on the GPU
A simplified relationship, not a screenshot or a complete design.
A concrete example
llama.cpp enables Metal by default on macOS, so models run on the Mac's GPU without extra setup.
The distinction that matters
Metal is to Apple graphics what CUDA is to NVIDIA cards.
Related terms
Apple Silicon
Apple's M-series chips, which put the processor, graphics, and memory together. Good at running local AI.
Hardware & hostingCUDA
Nvidia's system for running AI maths on its graphics cards.
APIs & softwareVulkan
A standard that lets software use graphics chips. Support for a model or task still depends on the program and the chip.
Where it is taught
APIs and JSON: connect a model to a small programSource and further reading
MDN · Web technology glossaryThe definition and example are written for this library. The link gives background, official documentation or legal authority as labelled. Legal scope depends on the jurisdiction and current text; product features depend on release and settings.