iPad Pros Take Control of DEVONthink 4 with Joe Kissel (iPad Pros - 0244)
Feb 26, 2026
Joe Kissel, author and Take Control publisher who wrote Take Control of DEVONthink 4, walks through his long history with DEVONthink and how he uses it for business records. He discusses the new generative AI features, practical AI workflows inside databases, cross-platform differences between iPad and Mac, custom metadata, scanning and syncing risks, and tips for organizing large document collections.
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Set Up API Keys Before Using AI Features
- If you want to use generative AI in DEVONthink, first obtain API keys for your chosen providers and configure them in the app.
- Joe details signing up at provider sites, entering API keys, choosing models, and optionally using local models on a Mac.
Local Models Keep Data Private But Need Big Macs
- Local LLMs can run in DEVONthink via tools like LM Studio or Olama, keeping data private but requiring substantial Mac RAM and time.
- Joe tested a local model on an M4 Pro Mac that took 39 seconds to answer a simple math query.
Use Chat With Selected Documents For Focused Analysis
- Use DEVONthink's AI chat to analyze selected documents by asking a model to compare, summarize, or extract insights from chosen files.
- You can request the AI to produce documents, images, or charts using your database content as input.
