AI chat

Ask Brim, Any AI You Already Pay For, in the Notch

To chat with AI from the Mac notch, hover the notch, open Ask Brim and type. Answers can come from the ChatGPT plan you sign in to through Codex, the Claude plan you use in Claude Code, Apple’s on‑device model, or your own key for OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, xAI, Llama or OpenRouter. You pick per chat. Brim is $4.99, once, and adds no AI bill of its own.

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The problem

You already pay for ChatGPT or Claude, yet a quick question still means finding a browser tab or another chat window, and most notch apps only offer a small on-device model.

How it works in the notch

  1. 1

    Open Ask Brim. Hover the notch and open Ask Brim. The composer is ready to type.

  2. 2

    Pick where it runs. Choose your ChatGPT plan, your Claude plan, Apple on-device, or a provider you added a key for.

  3. 3

    Pick a model and effort. Chips under the composer switch model and reasoning effort for that chat.

  4. 4

    Keep the thread. Answers stream in, with code blocks you can copy. Start a new chat any time.

How to use your ChatGPT plan without an API key

OpenAI’s “Sign in with ChatGPT” for third-party apps is a partner programme, so Brim uses Codex’s own official sign-in instead. Once Codex is signed in, Ask Brim can chat on that plan. Claude works the same way through Claude Code.

When to use Apple on-device

Apple’s on-device model is the right pick for text you don’t want to leave the Mac: a draft, a client note, something pasted from the clipboard. It needs a Mac with Apple Intelligence turned on.

When another tool is the better choice

If you need web search, images or long research, use the provider’s own app. If you only want on-device chat, OmniNotch’s Ask Omni does that too; see Brim vs OmniNotch.

Privacy notes

Each chat goes only to the provider you picked. API keys live in your macOS Keychain. Brim keeps no copy on a server, because there isn’t one. Read the privacy policy.

Questions

Do I need an API key?
No. Use your ChatGPT plan through Codex, your Claude plan through Claude Code, or Apple on-device. Keys are optional.
Which providers can I add a key for?
OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, xAI, Llama and OpenRouter.
Does Brim charge for AI?
No. Brim adds no AI fees. Plans and keys are billed by their providers as usual.
Where are my keys stored?
In the macOS Keychain, on your Mac.
Can I use it without Apple Intelligence?
Yes. Apple on-device needs it; the other providers don’t.
Is Ask Brim a subscription?
No. It’s included in the one-time $4.99 license.
Buy for $4.99Already bought? Download