Getting Started

Basics · free

AITerm is a native macOS terminal app. It opens a real shell first, then adds an AI command loop when you want help writing, fixing, or explaining commands.

Install AITerm

Option A — direct download (recommended):

Download the current DMG from ai-term.com.
Open the DMG.
Drag AITerm into Applications.
Launch AITerm from Applications.

Option B — Homebrew: if you use Homebrew, run:

brew install --cask vega-llc/aiterm/ai-term

The build is Developer ID signed and notarized by Apple, so it launches normally — you should not need any right-click or "Open Anyway" workaround. If macOS shows a first-launch confirmation, use the standard Open button. AITerm is intentionally a terminal app, so it is not sandboxed like a document editor; that is by design and is what lets it act as a real shell.

To update later, use AITerm's built-in updater (it checks automatically), or run brew upgrade --cask ai-term if you installed via Homebrew. See Updating and Uninstalling.

First launch

On first launch, AITerm shows onboarding. The onboarding flow lets you choose how AI should run:

Set up local AI: AITerm can use a managed local Ollama engine. The engine is downloaded only after you confirm setup.
Use a cloud key: Choose a provider and use your own API key.
Skip for now: The terminal still works as a normal shell. AI actions show an unavailable-provider message until a provider is configured.

If the local engine cannot be reached and you are offline, the app offers a cloud-key path instead of leaving you at a dead end. If a managed engine download fails verification or the disk is full, the setup UI shows that specific cause.

Pick your first provider

Not sure which to choose?

Want maximum privacy, or work offline? Choose Local (Ollama). It runs on your Mac and nothing leaves the machine. It's Free.
Already have an OpenAI or Anthropic key? Choose that provider in Settings ▸ LLM and paste your key. It's Free (you use your own account), and your key is stored in the macOS Keychain.
Already pay for Claude Code or Codex? Use CLI-subscription delegation (Pro) to reuse that subscription.

Cloud requests go directly from your Mac to the provider you selected; AITerm does not proxy them through an AITerm server, and secrets are redacted before anything is sent. For the full setup of every provider, see AI Providers and Models.

Your first AI command

Type a plain-English request in the input bar, such as:

show the largest files in this folder

AITerm proposes an editable shell command with a risk badge. Review it, edit it if needed, then press Return to approve and run it. Press Escape to discard it.