ou can create multiple pyenv environments for different Python versions or projects.

AI Python Setup Tutorial (Mac)

This tutorial guides you through installing a clean Python AI environment on macOS with Python 3.11 while keeping Python 3.14, and installing the essential AI libraries: PyTorch, Replicate, Diffusers, OpenAI, and Jupyter.

Step 1: Install Homebrew

Homebrew is required to install Python and other tools. Run this in Terminal:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

Step 2: Install pyenv

pyenv allows multiple Python versions side-by-side:

brew install pyenv

Tip: Add pyenv to your shell startup if prompted:

echo 'export PYENV_ROOT="$HOME/.pyenv"' >> ~/.zshrc
echo 'export PATH="$PYENV_ROOT/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
echo 'eval "$(pyenv init --path)"' >> ~/.zshrc
echo 'eval "$(pyenv init -)"' >> ~/.zshrc

Step 3: Install Python 3.11

pyenv install 3.11.10 -s

Step 4: Create a Virtual Environment

pyenv virtualenv 3.11.10 ai-env
pyenv activate ai-env

Step 5: Upgrade pip

pip install --upgrade pip setuptools wheel

Step 6: Install AI Libraries

pip install torch torchvision torchaudio
pip install replicate
pip install diffusers transformers accelerate
pip install openai
pip install jupyterlab notebook pillow requests user_agents

Step 7: Run Your AI Environment

Activate your environment anytime:

pyenv activate ai-env

Deactivate it:

pyenv deactivate

Run Jupyter:

jupyter lab

Run Python scripts:

python your_script.py

Tips & Notes

• This keeps your macOS Python 3.14 untouched.
• All AI packages are installed inside the ai-env virtual environment.
• You can create multiple pyenv environments for different Python versions or projects.

Optional: Faster Stable Diffusion

If using a Mac with Apple Silicon, you can enable Metal acceleration for much faster inference. This is optional.