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Configure AI model options - budget cloud models (save 80%+) and offline mode (use Dex without internet)
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| name | ai-setup |
| description | Configure AI model options - budget cloud models (save 80%+) and offline mode (use Dex without internet) |
Help users configure alternative AI models for Dex:
This skill is designed for users of ALL technical levels. Use plain language, avoid jargon, and guide step-by-step.
/ai-setupSay:
**Let's configure your AI options!**
Right now, Dex uses Claude for everything. It's excellent, but it costs money per use and requires internet.
Here are your options:
---
**1. 💰 Budget Cloud Mode** — Cheaper AI when online
**What it is:** Use models like Kimi or DeepSeek that cost 80-97% less than Claude
**The catch:** Requires a small upfront payment (~$5-10) to a service called OpenRouter
- You'll need a credit card or Apple Pay
- That $5-10 lasts weeks or months
- Example: If Claude costs you $90/month, this would cost ~$10-20/month
**Best for:** People who use Dex heavily and want to cut costs
---
**2. ✈️ Offline Mode** — AI that runs on your computer
**What it is:** Download a free AI model that works without internet
**The catch:** Uses your computer's memory and processing power
- Requires ~8GB RAM minimum (you have 36GB ✅)
- One-time download of 8-20GB
- Slightly lower quality than Claude
**Best for:** Travel (planes, trains), privacy, or if you don't want to pay anything
**Cost: Completely free forever**
---
**3. 🎯 Smart Routing** — Automatic model selection
This automatically picks the best model for each task. It works with whatever you set up above — if you only set up offline mode, it'll use that for simple tasks.
---
**Which would you like to set up?**
- "Budget cloud" — I'll walk you through the payment setup
- "Offline" — Free, no payment needed, let's do it
- "Both" — Get the most flexibility
- "Neither" — Stick with Claude for now
Wait for user response, then branch accordingly.
Great choice — you'll have maximum flexibility!
Let's start with **offline mode** first (it's free and quick), then we'll do budget cloud.
---
Then run Branch 2 (Offline), and when complete, transition:
**Offline mode is ready!** ✅
Now let's set up budget cloud so you can save money when you're online.
Budget cloud requires adding ~$5-10 to an OpenRouter account.
**Ready to continue, or want to stop here?**
- "Continue" — Let's set up budget cloud
- "Stop here" — Offline is enough for now (you can add budget cloud later)
If they continue, run Branch 1. If they stop, skip to smart routing offer.
If user hesitates on budget cloud or mentions payment concerns:
No problem! The offline option is completely free and works great for most daily tasks.
Want to set that up instead? You can always add budget cloud later when it makes sense.
If user can't do offline (old hardware, not enough RAM):
With your current setup, local AI would be quite slow.
Your best options are:
1. **Stick with Claude** — Best quality, you're already set up
2. **Budget cloud** — Much cheaper than Claude, but does need that initial payment
What sounds better?
Before diving into setup, confirm:
**Quick check before we start:**
Budget cloud requires:
✓ Creating an account at OpenRouter.ai
✓ Adding ~$5-10 in credits (credit card or Apple Pay)
✓ About 5 minutes to set up
This is a one-time setup. That $5-10 will last you weeks or months.
**Ready to proceed?**
- "Yes" — Let's do it
- "Actually, let's do offline instead" — No problem, that's free
- "Maybe later" — We can come back to this anytime
If they want to pivot to offline, go to Branch 2.
**Budget Cloud Models — What Are Your Options?**
These are AI models from other companies that cost much less:
| Model | Monthly Savings | Quality | Best For |
|-------|-----------------|---------|----------|
| **Kimi K2.5** | ~80% cheaper | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great | General tasks, thinking |
| **DeepSeek V3** | ~95% cheaper | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great | Coding, analysis |
| **Gemini 2.5 Flash** | ~90% cheaper | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great | Long documents, reasoning |
**My recommendation:** Start with **Kimi K2.5** — it's the closest to Claude in quality.
**Real cost example:**
If you currently spend ~$90/month on Claude, Kimi would cost ~$18/month for similar tasks.
Want to set up Kimi? (You can always add others later)
**Setting Up Kimi (5-minute setup)**
To use these models, we go through a service called **OpenRouter**.
Think of it like a phone plan that lets you call different networks.
**Here's what to do:**
**Step 1: Create an OpenRouter account**
Go to: **https://openrouter.ai/keys**
Click "Sign up" (Google/GitHub login works)
**Step 2: Add credits**
- Click "Credits" in the top menu
- Add $5-10 to start (this lasts weeks/months)
- They accept cards, Apple Pay, etc.
**Step 3: Create an API key**
- Go to: https://openrouter.ai/keys
- Click "Create Key"
- Give it a name like "Dex"
- Copy the key (starts with `sk-or-...`)
**Step 4: Paste your key here**
Once you have your key, paste it here and I'll configure everything automatically.
---
*Stuck? Here's what each step looks like:*
- OpenRouter's interface is simple - big blue buttons
- The API key is just a password for your account
- Your credits work for ALL their models (Kimi, DeepSeek, etc.)
When user provides key:
# Validate key format
if not key.startswith("sk-or-"):
respond("Hmm, that doesn't look like an OpenRouter key. They usually start with 'sk-or-'. Can you double-check?")
return
# Create or update models.json
Generate ~/.pi/agent/models.json:
{
"providers": {
"openrouter": {
"baseUrl": "https://openrouter.ai/api/v1",
"api": "openai-completions",
"apiKey": "USER_KEY_HERE",
"models": [
{
"id": "moonshotai/kimi-k2.5",
"name": "Kimi K2.5 (Budget)",
"input": ["text"],
"contextWindow": 262144,
"maxTokens": 32768,
"cost": { "input": 0.6, "output": 3, "cacheRead": 0, "cacheWrite": 0 }
},
{
"id": "deepseek/deepseek-chat",
"name": "DeepSeek V3 (Budget)",
"input": ["text"],
"contextWindow": 64000,
"maxTokens": 8192,
"cost": { "input": 0.14, "output": 0.28, "cacheRead": 0, "cacheWrite": 0 }
},
{
"id": "google/gemini-2.5-flash",
"name": "Gemini 2.5 Flash (Budget)",
"input": ["text", "image"],
"contextWindow": 1048576,
"maxTokens": 8192,
"cost": { "input": 0.3, "output": 2.5, "cacheRead": 0, "cacheWrite": 0 }
}
]
}
}
}
Say:
**Done! Budget models are ready.**
I've added three models you can switch to anytime:
- **Kimi K2.5** — Best quality budget option
- **DeepSeek V3** — Super cheap, great for coding
- **Gemini 2.5 Flash** — Google's budget option, great for reasoning
**How to use them:**
**Option A: Switch in this session**
Type `/model` and select one from the list
**Option B: Ask me to switch**
Just say "use the budget model" or "switch to Kimi"
**Option C: Set as default** (advanced)
I can make Kimi your default and only use Claude for complex stuff
---
**Quick test:** Want me to do something simple with Kimi right now so you can see it work?
Add to System/user-profile.yaml:
ai_models:
budget_cloud:
enabled: true
provider: openrouter
primary_model: moonshotai/kimi-k2.5
configured_date: 2026-02-04
**Offline Mode — Let's Check Your Setup**
To run AI on your computer, I need to know what you're working with.
**Quick question:** What kind of computer are you using?
1. **Mac with Apple Silicon** (M1, M2, M3, M4 chip)
2. **Mac with Intel** (older Mac)
3. **Windows PC**
4. **Linux**
5. **Not sure**
(Most Macs from 2020 onwards have Apple Silicon)
Based on response, check RAM:
**Great! Now let's check your memory (RAM).**
On Mac:
1. Click the Apple menu (top-left corner)
2. Click "About This Mac"
3. Look for "Memory" — what number do you see?
On Windows:
1. Right-click the Start button
2. Click "System"
3. Look for "Installed RAM"
What does it say? (e.g., "8 GB", "16 GB", "32 GB")
if ram <= 8:
model = "qwen2.5:7b"
quality = "Good for 70% of tasks"
size = "4.4 GB download"
elif ram <= 16:
model = "qwen2.5:14b"
quality = "Good for 80% of tasks"
size = "8.5 GB download"
elif ram <= 32:
model = "qwen2.5:32b"
quality = "Near-Claude for most tasks"
size = "18 GB download"
else:
model = "qwen2.5:72b"
quality = "Excellent, close to Claude"
size = "40 GB download"
Say:
**Perfect! Here's my recommendation:**
With **{{RAM}} GB** of memory, you can run **Qwen 2.5 {{size}}**.
**What to expect:**
- Quality: {{quality_description}}
- Download size: {{size}}
- Speed: {{speed based on chip}}
**What works great offline:**
✅ Daily planning and reviews
✅ Meeting summaries
✅ Task management
✅ Note organization
✅ Simple analysis
**What's better with Claude:**
⚠️ Complex strategic planning
⚠️ Nuanced writing
⚠️ Multi-step reasoning
Ready to set this up? It takes about 10-15 minutes (mostly download time).
Check if Ollama is already installed:
which ollama || echo "not installed"
If not installed:
**Step 1: Install Ollama**
Ollama is a free app that runs AI models on your computer.
**On Mac (easiest way):**
1. Go to: **https://ollama.ai/download**
2. Click "Download for macOS"
3. Open the downloaded file
4. Drag Ollama to your Applications folder
5. Open Ollama from Applications (you'll see a llama icon in your menu bar)
**On Windows:**
1. Go to: **https://ollama.ai/download**
2. Click "Download for Windows"
3. Run the installer
4. Follow the prompts
**Let me know when Ollama is installed and running** (you should see a llama icon in your menu bar / system tray).
Once Ollama is confirmed running:
**Step 2: Download the AI model**
Now let's download the model to your computer. This is a one-time download.
**Run this command in Terminal:**
ollama pull {{recommended_model}}
**How to open Terminal:**
- Mac: Press Cmd+Space, type "Terminal", press Enter
- Windows: Search for "Command Prompt"
**Then paste the command above and press Enter.**
This will download ~{{size}}. It might take 5-15 minutes depending on your internet speed.
Let me know when it says "success"!
Once model is downloaded, update ~/.pi/agent/models.json to add Ollama:
{
"providers": {
"ollama": {
"baseUrl": "http://localhost:11434/v1",
"api": "openai-completions",
"apiKey": "ollama",
"models": [
{
"id": "{{recommended_model}}",
"name": "{{model_name}} (Offline)",
"input": ["text"],
"contextWindow": 32768,
"maxTokens": 8192,
"cost": { "input": 0, "output": 0, "cacheRead": 0, "cacheWrite": 0 }
}
]
}
}
}
**Step 3: Let's test it!**
Try this:
1. Turn off your WiFi (just for testing)
2. In Pi, type `/model` and select "{{model_name}} (Offline)"
3. Ask me something simple like "What day is it?"
If I respond, offline mode works! 🎉
Go ahead and test, then turn WiFi back on and let me know how it went.
**Offline mode is ready!**
What happens now:
- When you have internet → Dex uses Claude (best quality)
- When you're offline → Dex can use your local model
- You can also manually switch anytime with `/model`
**For your next flight or train ride:**
1. Make sure Ollama is running (llama icon in menu bar)
2. Start Pi/Dex as usual
3. If internet isn't available, switch to your offline model
**Pro tip:** Test it at home once before relying on it during travel!
---
Want to also set up budget cloud models to save money when online?
Update System/user-profile.yaml:
ai_models:
offline:
enabled: true
runner: ollama
model: qwen2.5:14b
configured_date: 2026-02-04
First, check what's set up:
System/user-profile.yaml for ai_models sectionbash $VAULT_PATH/System/scripts/test-ai-connections.sh silentlyThen adapt the explanation:
If both budget cloud and offline are configured:
**Smart Routing — I'll Pick the Best Model Automatically**
You've got all three tiers set up — nice! Here's how I'll use them:
| Task Type | Model | Why |
|-----------|-------|-----|
| Complex planning, coaching | Claude | Needs deep reasoning |
| Daily tasks, summaries | Kimi (budget) | Good enough, saves money |
| Quick questions | Kimi (budget) | Fast and cheap |
| When you're offline | Qwen (local) | Only option! |
**Want to enable smart routing?**
- "Yes" — I'll pick automatically (you can always override)
- "No" — I'll always ask before switching
If only offline is configured:
**Smart Routing — I'll Pick Based on What You Have**
Since you set up offline mode, here's how routing works:
| Task Type | Model | Why |
|-----------|-------|-----|
| Complex tasks | Claude | When you need the best |
| Simple tasks | Claude | (budget not configured) |
| When you're offline | Qwen (local) | Your backup! |
**Tip:** If you add budget cloud later, I can start using cheaper models for simple tasks automatically.
**Want to enable smart routing?**
- "Yes" — Claude when online, local when offline
- "No" — I'll always ask
If only budget cloud is configured:
**Smart Routing — I'll Pick Based on What You Have**
Since you set up budget cloud, here's how routing works:
| Task Type | Model | Why |
|-----------|-------|-----|
| Complex tasks | Claude | When you need the best |
| Simple tasks | Kimi (budget) | Saves money! |
| Offline | ❌ Not available | (not configured) |
**Tip:** If you add offline mode later, you'll have a backup for travel.
**Want to enable smart routing?**
- "Yes" — Claude for complex, Kimi for simple
- "No" — I'll always ask
If neither is configured:
**Smart Routing — Nothing to Route Yet!**
Smart routing works best when you have alternatives set up. Right now you only have Claude.
Would you like to set up:
- "Offline mode" — Free, works without internet
- "Budget cloud" — Cheaper models, needs ~$5-10 upfront
- "Neither for now" — Stick with Claude
Based on what's configured, update System/user-profile.yaml:
ai_models:
smart_routing:
enabled: true
# Only include models that are actually configured
rules:
complex_tasks:
model: claude-sonnet # Always available
routine_tasks:
model: {{budget_model_if_configured OR "claude-sonnet"}}
offline:
model: {{offline_model_if_configured OR null}}
Confirmation message (adapts to setup):
If budget + offline:
**Smart routing is enabled!**
Here's what I'll do:
- Complex tasks (planning, coaching) → Claude
- Simple tasks (summaries, quick questions) → Kimi (saves money)
- When offline → Your local model
You can always override by saying "use Claude for this" or "switch to budget".
If only offline:
**Smart routing is enabled!**
Here's what I'll do:
- When online → Claude (best quality)
- When offline → Your local model (automatic fallback)
If you add budget cloud later, I can start saving you money on simple tasks.
If only budget:
**Smart routing is enabled!**
Here's what I'll do:
- Complex tasks → Claude (best quality)
- Simple tasks → Kimi (saves money)
If you add offline mode later, you'll have a backup for travel.
**Ollama won't start?**
Try these fixes:
**Mac:**
1. Open Applications folder
2. Right-click Ollama → Open
3. If blocked: System Preferences → Security → Allow Ollama
**If still stuck:**
1. Open Terminal
2. Run: `ollama serve`
3. Keep that window open
Let me know if you see any error messages.
**OpenRouter key not working?**
Let's debug:
1. **Check key format** — Should start with `sk-or-`
2. **Check credits** — Go to openrouter.ai/credits, make sure you have balance
3. **Test the key:**
curl https://openrouter.ai/api/v1/models
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_KEY_HERE"
You should see a list of models, not an error.
4. **Regenerate key** — Go to openrouter.ai/keys, delete old key, make new one
What do you see when you try the test?
**Local model running slow?**
This usually means the model is too big for your RAM.
**Fix options:**
1. **Try a smaller model:**
ollama pull qwen2.5:7b
(smaller = faster, but slightly less capable)
2. **Close other apps** — Free up memory
3. **Check Activity Monitor** (Mac) or Task Manager (Windows)
- If RAM is maxed out, you need a smaller model
Want me to help you switch to a smaller model?
**No credit card for OpenRouter?**
Some alternatives:
1. **Gemini 2.5 Flash** — Google's budget model, very affordable
I can set that up instead
2. **Offline Only** — Skip budget cloud, just use local models
Free forever, works without internet
3. **Anthropic Direct** — If you have Claude credits already, we can optimize usage
Which works for you?
**Older computer detected**
With {{RAM}} GB RAM, local AI will be very slow.
**Better options for you:**
1. **Budget cloud only** — Uses internet, but works on any computer
2. **Stick with Claude** — Best quality, works everywhere
Offline mode really needs 8GB+ RAM to be useful.
Want to set up budget cloud instead?
After setup, track in System/usage_log.md:
After any setup completes, show an adaptive summary and offer smart routing:
**Setup Complete!** ✅
| Mode | Status |
|------|--------|
| Premium (Claude) | ✅ Always available |
| Budget Cloud | ❌ Not configured |
| Offline Mode | ✅ Ready (Qwen 2.5) |
**How to use offline mode:**
- When you're online: Dex uses Claude (best quality)
- When you're offline: Switch with `/model` or say "use offline model"
- Or I can switch automatically when I detect you're offline
**Want to enable smart routing?** (I'll automatically use your local model when offline)
- "Yes" — Enable automatic switching
- "No" — I'll ask before switching
You can add budget cloud later with `/ai-setup` if you want to save money.
**Setup Complete!** ✅
| Mode | Status |
|------|--------|
| Premium (Claude) | ✅ Always available |
| Budget Cloud | ✅ Ready (Kimi K2.5) |
| Offline Mode | ❌ Not configured |
**How to use budget models:**
- Say "use budget model" or "use Kimi"
- Or use `/model` to switch manually
- Or I can pick automatically based on task complexity
**Want to enable smart routing?** (I'll use Kimi for simple tasks, Claude for complex ones)
- "Yes" — Enable automatic switching
- "No" — I'll ask before switching
You can add offline mode later with `/ai-setup` for travel.
**Setup Complete!** ✅
| Mode | Status | Model |
|------|--------|-------|
| Premium | ✅ | Claude Sonnet |
| Budget | ✅ | Kimi K2.5 |
| Offline | ✅ | Qwen 2.5 |
**You have maximum flexibility!**
**Want to enable smart routing?**
I'll automatically:
- Use Claude for complex tasks (planning, coaching)
- Use Kimi for simple tasks (summaries, quick questions) — saves money
- Use your local model when offline — automatic fallback
- "Yes" — Enable smart routing
- "No" — I'll ask each time
**Quick reference:**
- "Use Kimi" → Switch to budget
- "Use Claude" → Switch to premium
- `/model` → Manual picker
- `/ai-status` → Check configuration
Update System/usage_log.md to mark AI setup as used.
Analytics (Silent):
Call track_event with event_name ai_setup_completed and properties:
mode (budget_cloud/offline/smart_routing)This only fires if the user has opted into analytics. No action needed if it returns "analytics_disabled".
Users can check their AI setup anytime:
/ai-status
**Your AI Configuration**
| Mode | Status | Model |
|------|--------|-------|
| Premium | ✅ | Claude Sonnet |
| Budget | {{✅ / ❌}} | {{Kimi K2.5 / Not configured}} |
| Offline | {{✅ / ❌}} | {{Qwen 2.5 / Not configured}} |
| Smart Routing | {{✅ Enabled / ❌ Disabled}} | |
**This session:** Using {{current_model}}
{{If OpenRouter configured:}} **OpenRouter credits:** ${{balance}} remaining
{{If Ollama configured:}} **Ollama status:** {{Running ✅ / Not running ⚠️}}
**Quick actions:**
- `/model` — Switch models
- `/ai-setup` — Configure more options
- "Use budget model" — Quick switch