ChatGPT estimates a user that runs all the LLM widgets on this page will cost around a cent. If this hits 10,000 page view that starts to get pricy. Similarly for running this at Google scale, the cost per LLM api call will definitely add up.
They are not necessarily cheaper. The commercial models are heavily subsidized to a point where they match your electricity cost for running it locally.
In the arguably-unique case of Apple Silicon, I'm not sure about that. The SoC-integrated GPU and unified RAM ends up being extremely good for running LLM's locally and at low energy cost.
Of course, there's the upfront cost of Apple hardware... and the lack of server hardware per se... and Apple's seeming jekyll/hyde treatment of any use-case of their GPU's that doesn't involve their own direct business...
