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The local models in BrainBox

The default setup uses two models with different jobs. Ollama runs both on your computer.

Answers: Gemma 4 E4B

gemma4:e4b reads your question and the passages found in your library, then writes an answer. Check the linked sources before relying on it.

Search: Nomic Embed Text

nomic-embed-text turns text into a searchable representation called an embedding. It helps find passages related to your question, even when the words differ. It does not write answers.

Your library: gbrain

Keeps imported knowledge and its search index. Importing a document makes it searchable; it does not retrain Gemma.

Start with text and PDFs. The full default profile also uses qwen3-vl:8b for images and Whisper base.en for audio. These are optional and need additional downloads and resources.

Want a different answer model? Once it is downloaded in Ollama, open BrainBox’s Local setup and choose it from the installed models. Available memory and model support affect what will work. Changing the embedding model is a separate change that requires rebuilding the search index.

Model settings and requirements →

What makes local AI work?

Imagine asking: “What did we agree with this customer?” Each part has a different job.

Local model

The software that generates an answer on your computer. Ollama runs the model. Its size affects how much memory it needs and how fast it responds.

Your knowledge

Your files and their searchable index. Embeddings represent the meaning of text as numbers, helping find relevant passages. gbrain manages the knowledge library. Adding files does not train the model.

Harness

The software around a model that manages instructions, tools, and the steps of a task. For example: find customer notes, ask the model for a summary, then present the sources. Pi is an open-source harness option; it is not bundled by the installer described here.

Skills

Reusable instructions for a task, such as “summarize decisions and list unresolved questions.” A skill guides the model; it does not give it new training or permission to use a tool.

Loops

A cycle of doing a step, checking the result, and deciding whether to continue. For example: draft a summary, check its sources, then revise. Loops need a stopping rule and approval before external actions. This version saves feedback for review; it does not automatically run improvement loops.

Explore the components and model settings →

Prefer to use your agent?

Give your agent the setup guide. It can check your computer, explain the tools, and help verify your first answer.

Set up with your agent →

Choose your computer

This guide cannot inspect your device. Your selection stays in this page.

On a Mac, check About This Mac. On Windows, open Settings → System → About. On Linux, open system information.

Need help choosing a setup? Share your computer details and the task you want to do.

Try the workspace

Explore sample files, search, and prepared answers before installing. This is an interactive prototype, not a connection to your computer or a live model.

Already installed? Get your first answer from your own files.

Get your first useful answer

On the computer running BrainBox, open localhost:8630/app. This address points to your own computer. It works after installation; it is not the public demo.

1. Open Local setup. Check that the knowledge engine and local runtime are available, then choose an installed answer model.
2. Select Add documents. Start with a short, non-sensitive text file or text-based PDF. Choose the file, then select Import selected files.
3. Wait for the import result. Check for a per-file error. Search embeddings may finish after the document appears.
4. Use Search for an exact phrase from the document. Open the result and check the original source.
5. Open Ask your brain and ask a question answered by that document. Check the answer’s source link and model name.

You’re ready when: your file appears in search, the answer addresses your question, and its source link opens the passage you used. If one of these fails, check the troubleshooting guide before adding more files.

The map shows documents and explicit saved links between them. A document can be searchable without having a line to another document.