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Obsibrain AI Alpha

Set up optional desktop vault chat, choose a provider, and understand read-only access and data transfer.

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Obsibrain AI Alpha is optional read-only vault chat on desktop. It can search and read the current vault and cite source notes. It cannot create, edit, move, or delete notes.

Core Obsibrain workflows do not need AI.

Why Obsibrain uses Pi

Pi is the local agent runtime, not the AI model provider. Obsibrain uses Pi’s RPC interface for the chat panel and relies on Pi for provider sign-in, model selection, and session history. You choose the provider and model through Pi; Obsibrain does not store provider credentials.

Pi can run other tools on its own. Obsibrain starts it with a guarded, read-only Obsidian CLI tool for the current vault. The panel remains optional, and the core workflows work without Pi.

Install and connect Pi

The panel requires Obsidian CLI and Pi CLI 0.84.2 or later. Install Pi with Node.js 22.19 or later and npm:

npm install -g --ignore-scripts @earendil-works/pi-coding-agent
pi --version

Check that pi --version reports at least 0.84.2. On Windows, follow Pi’s Windows setup if needed.

  1. Run pi in a terminal, then use /login inside Pi to connect your AI provider. You need a supported provider account or API key.
  2. Install and enable Obsidian CLI using Obsidian’s guide.
  3. Open Settings → Obsibrain and find the AI settings.
  4. Set the Pi CLI or Obsidian CLI executable path if automatic discovery cannot find it.
  5. Open Open Obsibrain AI (Alpha) from the command palette or use its bot icon.

Choose an available model in the panel. Available thinking controls depend on the model and Pi configuration.

Before its first message in a vault, the panel asks for consent to send vault excerpts to your AI provider. Chat prompts, instructions, and content returned by allowed read tools can reach that provider.

The provider’s retention and account policies apply. This is not a promise that AI stays local. Decline the disclosure if you do not want to send that content.

Ask and verify

Ask a question about the current vault, such as which notes describe a project’s outcome. Open the cited note links to check the answer against its sources.

The guarded tool permits allowlisted Obsidian CLI reads and navigation for the current vault. It refuses writes, other programs, other vaults, .obsidian, and hidden technical paths.

One Pi session persists across Obsidian sessions. New Chat starts a fresh session and leaves the previous session in Pi history. Pi stores provider credentials and session history outside Obsibrain.

Edit AI instructions in Obsibrain settings to guide new chats. If prerequisites are unavailable, follow troubleshooting and continue with the core workflows.