Set up AI and extensions

This guide covers Grid 0.66.8. Check that your app and runtime are updated; model availability still depends on published packages in your chosen registry.

Open File → AI & extensions, or choose AI setup in Grid Agent. Your saved AI choice is shared by Chat, new Agent tasks, and new workbook AI_PROMPT and AI_ASK requests. Formulas that name an exact model with PREDICT keep that choice.

Choose how to run AI

You want to…	Choose
Use an existing AI account	AI providers → OpenAI, Claude, or Vercel AI Gateway
Connect a server you already run	AI providers → Model server
Download a model to this computer	Local models in desktop with the Pro AI runtime

Connect an AI account

1. Choose Add API key for your provider, paste the key, and choose Save and use.
2. Choose Test connection & find models to check access without generating an answer.
3. Select a model under Model preferences, then save the preference.

The key is encrypted on the Grid instance. Saving a key alone does not check its validity, model access, or account balance. Use provider switches back to a saved account. Your provider and model choice survive a restart.

Connect your model server

Choose Connect server, enter its OpenAI-compatible API address, and supply a key only if the server requires one. Choose Connect & find models, select a model, then Save and use server. If discovery is unavailable, enter the model name your server exposes.

A local address refers to the computer running Grid. Use the server's HTTPS address when it runs elsewhere. Grid connects to this server; it does not install or start it. Edit connection lets you change the server later.

Install a local model

1. Open Local models and search for a model or choose a family shortcut.
2. Choose View to see the compatible release, download size, memory needs, selected CPU or GPU, and publisher terms. Find a good fit for this computer suggests a compatible text model from the displayed results.
3. Choose Install. Progress shows downloaded bytes; Pause download and Resume download retain completed transfers where the publisher supports it.
4. In Installed, choose Try it, then Use this model to make it the shared AI choice. Open Grid Agent continues into chat.

Only published, compatible releases can be installed. Families come from your selected registry, so catalog additions do not normally require another app update. New model architectures may require an engine update. Gated downloads still require the publisher's access process; Grid does not accept terms for you.

Apple GPU execution uses Metal, and compatible NVIDIA releases use CUDA. Apple Neural Engine/NPU execution is not available. A CPU-only release remains CPU-only. Grid does not silently send a local-model request to a cloud provider.

Manage model offers removal. For an update, install a newer exact release, try it, and select it; older versions remain until you remove them.

Find and activate an extension

Choose Extensions, search, open a release, choose a workspace folder, and select Install. Review permissions & activate then opens Package Center for that folder. Review the permissions before activating the extension. Package Center also retains its npm, Python, and other upstream-package tools.

Choose your registry

Registries starts with Grid Registry. To add another, enter its name, HTTPS address, and the verification code supplied independently by its administrator. Have a registry setup link? can fill those fields from a setup link or JSON. Review them, then choose Verify and use registry. Saved registries can be selected again; a failed check leaves your current selection intact.

The selected registry supplies both signed extensions and local models. Upstream npm/Python registries keep their separate Package Center settings.

Continue with images or live input

Choose an image-capable model, then follow Ask about images, recordings, and live sources. The saved connection is the same for these requests.