How AI models might change the way you use your computer | The VergeSkip to main contentThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.The VergeThe Verge logo.TechReviewsScienceEntertainmentAIHamburger Navigation ButtonThe homepageThe VergeThe Verge logo.Hamburger Navigation ButtonNavigation DrawerThe VergeThe Verge logo.Login / Sign UpcloseCloseSearchTechExpandAmazonAppleFacebookGoogleMicrosoftSamsungBusinessCreatorsMobilePolicySecurityTransportationReviewsExpandLaptopsPhonesHeadphonesTabletsSmart HomeSmartwatchesSpeakersDronesScienceExpandSpaceEnergyEnvironmentHealthEntertainmentExpandGamesTV ShowsMoviesAudioAIVerge ShoppingExpandBuying GuidesDealsGift GuidesSee All ShoppingCarsExpandElectric CarsAutonomous CarsRide-sharingScootersOther TransportationFeaturesVideosExpandYouTubeTikTokInstagramPodcastsExpandDecoderThe VergecastVersion HistoryNewslettersExpandThe Verge DailyInstallerVerge DealsNotepadOptimizerRegulatorThe StepbackArchivesStoreSubscribeFacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSThe VergeThe Verge logo.I just want AI to rename my photosComments DrawerCommentsLoading commentsGetting the conversation ready...PodcastsClosePodcastsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PodcastsAICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AITechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechI just want AI to rename my photosOn The Vergecast: What happens when the AI models get access to your computer.On The Vergecast: What happens when the AI models get access to your computer.by David PierceCloseDavid PierceEditor-at-LargePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by David PierceNov 30, 2025, 3:10 PM UTCLinkShareDavid PierceCloseDavid PiercePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by David Pierce is editor-at-large and Vergecast co-host with over a decade of experience covering consumer tech. Previously, at Protocol, The Wall Street Journal, and Wired.If all you want is a way to talk to ChatGPT, you’re practically spoiled for choice — there are countless ways to chat with the bots, and seemingly countless new ones every single day. But that’s not the whole story of how we’ll interact with large language models. It better not be.Thomas Paul Mann, CEO and cofounder of the app Raycast, has a much bigger vision for what an AI app might do. Raycast is many things: it’s an app launcher, it’s a way to search and interact with the files on your computer, it’s a note-taking app, and, yes, it’s yet another way to talk to ChatGPT and other LLMs. Because it has so much access to your data and your device, though, Raycast can use these AI models to actually do things on your behalf. Agentic AI, baby! Only this time, with even more potential — for better and for worse.

Subscribe: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Overcast | Pocket Casts | MoreOn this episode of The Vergecast, the first in our two-part series about how developers are using AI and integrating it into their products, Mann explains his big and small ideas for AI in Raycast. In the same way that so many companies are hoping to integrate their bots with browsers, in order to access all your history and preferences and Chrome-instilled muscle memory, Raycast thinks it can accomplish something very similar by replacing your Mac’s Spotlight and your PC’s Start menu. It can help you create, manage, and organize files, but it can also operate inside of any app you have installed. It can, in theory, even open up the Terminal and go wild with it. (That last one may not be advisable in most cases.)There are, of course, huge questions raised by all this integration and access. It’s one thing for a chatbot to make mistakes in a text chat; it’s another entirely to turn a hallucinating, imperfect tool loose on your computer. AI agents, by and large, don’t really work, so why would they be more reliable when they’re working on local files and not the whole internet? And even if all this stuff does eventually work, how are we supposed to use it? Mann has some answers, and some questions of his own.If you want to know more about everything we discuss in this episode, here are some links to get you started:RaycastFrom the Raycast blog: One interface, many LLMsFrom Raycast’s YouTube: How does the Raycast CEO use Raycast?How to use Raycast and how it compares to Spotlight and AlfredRaycast’s iOS app is now available for AI chat and notesFollow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.David PierceCloseDavid PierceEditor-at-LargePosts from this author will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All by David PierceAICloseAIPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AIAppsCloseAppsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All AppsPodcastsClosePodcastsPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All PodcastsTechCloseTechPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All TechVergecastCloseVergecastPosts from this topic will be added to your daily email digest and your homepage feed.FollowFollowSee All VergecastMost PopularMost PopularThe absolute best Cyber Monday deals you can already shopThe 201 Black Friday deals you can still getNinja’s versatile Creami ice cream maker hits an all-time low for Black FridayThe Super Mario Galaxy bundle for the Switch is still 20 percent offLogitech’s Casa is a must-have if you use a laptop — and it’s $30 offThe Verge DailyA free daily digest of the news that matters most.Email (required)Sign UpBy submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adMore in PodcastsThe geek’s guide to running fasterVine walked so TikTok could runAI agents are invading your PCPlayThe DoorDash Problem: How AI browsers are a huge threat to AmazonIt’s not your job to fix the internetPlayRing’s Jamie Siminoff thinks AI can reduce crimeThe geek’s guide to running fasterDavid PierceNov 25Vine walked so TikTok could runDavid PierceNov 23AI agents are invading your PCDavid PierceNov 21PlayThe DoorDash Problem: How AI browsers are a huge threat to AmazonNilay PatelNov 20It’s not your job to fix the internetDavid PierceNov 18PlayRing’s Jamie Siminoff thinks AI can reduce crimeNilay PatelNov 17Advertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adTop StoriesTwo hours agoThe absolute best Cyber Monday deals you can already shop1:00 PM UTCThe indie web is here to make the internet weird again1:00 PM UTCThe 2025 Installer gift guide3:12 PM UTCThe best Cyber Monday deals on Apple MacBooks, AirTags, iPads, and moreTwo hours agoYou need to read the treatise on spacing out, Bored and Brilliant32 seconds agoThis deal on smart glasses was too good for my husband to pass upThe VergeThe Verge logo.FacebookThreadsInstagramYoutubeRSSContactTip UsCommunity GuidelinesArchivesAboutEthics StatementHow We Rate and Review ProductsCookie SettingsTerms of UsePrivacy NoticeCookie PolicyLicensing FAQAccessibilityPlatform Status© 2025 Vox Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved

Thomas Paul Mann, CEO and cofounder of Raycast, envisions a future where artificial intelligence significantly alters how users interact with their computers, moving beyond simple chatbot interactions. Raycast, an app launcher and file management tool, is at the forefront of this potential shift, integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) to perform tasks directly on a user’s device. This integration extends beyond basic assistance; it aims to replace functionalities like the Mac’s Spotlight and Windows’ Start menu, enabling AI agents to create, manage, and organize files, even interacting with the Terminal.

However, this level of access raises substantial concerns. The inherent fallibility of current AI models, exemplified by potential “hallucinations” in text-based conversations, becomes exponentially more problematic when these models are deployed to manipulate files and processes on a user’s computer. The core issue revolves around trusting an imperfect tool with control over sensitive data and critical system operations. While AI agents generally struggle with reliability, the risk intensifies when they operate locally, bypassing the safeguards of the internet.

Despite these risks, Mann explores potential solutions and user experiences. He questions how users will effectively utilize such advanced AI integrations and seeks to define a practical approach. The integration of LLMs into tools like Raycast represents a significant evolution in the relationship between humans and computers, demanding careful consideration of both the potential benefits and inherent dangers. Mann’s vision, along with Raycast's development, highlights a trajectory where AI agents could potentially streamline workflows and enhance productivity, but necessitates a cautious and informed approach to ensure responsible implementation and mitigate potential harm. The conversation surrounding this shift underscores the need for robust safeguards, transparency, and ongoing evaluation as AI models increasingly gain access to and control within personal computing environments.