Yes. Local AI can help with work even if you do not connect an inbox, calendar, or company account. OGAD (Off Grid AI Desktop) can work with text you paste and documents you choose to add. Select a local model, and the prepared workflow runs on your computer. You control the source material instead of needing a connected account to begin.
| Download OGAD | Desktop releases |
What would you like to do with Off Grid AI?
Want help with this workflow, or a feature you would like us to add? Email support@offgridmobileai.co with your devices and the task you want to improve.
Start with a task that has a clear input
Useful work does not always need live access to an app. You can prepare a reply from a copied message, turn notes into a draft, compare two documents, or ask questions about a file you already have.
Suppose you need to prepare a client update. You can supply a checked list of completed work, open questions, and dates. The model can help organise that material without reading your mailbox.
The trade-off is explicit: you provide the current context. The app cannot know about a new email or calendar change that you have not supplied.
Choose what the model needs to see
For each task, identify the smallest useful source set. A short pasted note may be enough. A document comparison may need two current files. A project question may need a small set of approved reference documents.
| Task | Material you provide |
|---|---|
| Draft a reply | Relevant message and your intended response |
| Write a project update | Checked status, dates, and unresolved points |
| Compare documents | The two versions and the comparison question |
| Prepare meeting questions | Relevant notes and the purpose of the meeting |
| Explain a procedure | Current approved source text |
Do not copy passwords, authentication codes, or unrelated personal information into the chat. Account access is unnecessary for these examples.
Prepare OGAD for local work
Install the desktop app and download a local text model that fits your computer. Complete the first model load while connected. Core chat does not require a cloud AI account or an API key for local inference.
For a short task, open a fresh chat and paste the checked input. For document work, create a project through Projects > New project, then use Knowledge & settings > Knowledge base > Add files. Wait for indexing before starting Chats > New chat inside that project.
Readable PDF, DOCX, TXT, and Markdown files work with the text workflow. The desktop extractor reads available document text; scanned pages need a suitable text version.
If Include captured memory is available, turn it off for a source-only task and save. You do not need to enable background capture for a manual document or drafting workflow.
Try a useful reply draft
Copy only the relevant message text and add your facts:
Draft a reply to the message below. Use these facts: the first draft is complete, the review is scheduled for Thursday, and we still need the approved images. Ask for the images without promising a launch date. Do not send anything or add facts.
Read the result before copying it into your email tool. Check the recipient, dates, tone, and any commitment. The model has prepared text, not checked your live schedule.
This separation can be useful when you want writing help but do not want to configure an email connection. Sending the final message through your usual tool remains a separate action.
Use project documents for richer context
If you repeatedly work with the same source pack, a project can make it easier to ask related questions. Add the current brief, approved notes, and reference documents, then ask focused questions with source references.
For example:
Using the approved brief and current status note, list the questions we must resolve before the next client review. Name the supporting source for each question. Mark missing information instead of guessing.
Check the passages yourself. Project search retrieves relevant excerpts, not necessarily the entire contents of every file. A source citation helps you inspect the answer but does not prove it is correct.
Keep different clients’ material in separate projects when that helps organise context. Projects are not a replacement for business access permissions.
Know what you give up without connections
Without live account access, the model will not automatically see new messages, check current calendar availability, or fetch a newly updated document from a service.
That does not prevent useful drafting. It means you need to supply and verify the current facts.
| Need | Manual approach |
|---|---|
| Current meeting time | Check your calendar and provide the confirmed time |
| Latest client request | Paste the relevant current message |
| Updated document | Download and add the approved version |
| Sending a response | Review and send through your normal app |
| Completing a task | Use the authorised system yourself |
If a workflow becomes too repetitive, you can later assess whether a supported integration is worth configuring. Start with the manual route so you understand the actual value and information needed.
Keep local processing distinct from the whole workflow
A local model processes the material on your computer. That does not mean every part of your work is offline. Downloading a cloud document, receiving email, or sending the result still uses the relevant service.
Remote model choices and external tools also have separate network behavior. Check what is selected before making a local-only claim about a task.
A document being stored locally does not automatically establish legal compliance or permission to use it. Follow the handling rules that apply to your work.
Test a complete account-free task
After setup, disconnect the computer and use a locally saved source. Ask a question, review the answer, and save the result. Confirm that the workflow does not depend on a cloud placeholder or an unavailable model download.
Choose a task with an answer you can check. For example, ask for the stated review date in a brief and compare the response with the original.
This shows whether your own setup is ready. It is not a claim that every feature in the app works without a network or account.
Build from one useful result
Download OGAD and try a draft from a short checked note. You can get practical help before connecting any work account. If the result is useful, add a small document project next and keep the source boundaries clear.