Available cloud models
jo supports the most powerful AI models available:GPT (OpenAI)
GPT-4o and GPT-5.2 for advanced reasoning and analysis
Claude (Anthropic)
Claude 3.5 Sonnet for complex tasks and long-form writing
Gemini (Google)
Gemini Pro for multimodal understanding and analysis
Grok (xAI)
Grok for real-time information and reasoning
Local model included: jo also ships with a local model that runs entirely on your Mac. Swap between models anytime.
When to use cloud models
Most queries run completely locally on your Mac. Use cloud models when you need:Complex reasoning
- Multi-step problem solving
- Strategic planning
- Analyzing trade-offs
- Complex decision-making
Advanced analysis
- Deep document analysis
- Code generation and review
- Technical explanations
- Research synthesis
Specialized tasks
- Writing and editing
- Mathematical calculations
- Language translation
- Creative brainstorming
Extended context
- Processing many documents at once
- Long conversation history
- Connecting distant pieces of information
When local is enough
Your Mac’s local model handles:Search and retrieval
- Finding emails, notes, or files
- Searching your photo library
- Looking up past conversations
- Locating documents
Summaries
- Summarizing email threads
- Catching up on groupchats
- Meeting note summaries
- Quick document overviews
Simple questions
- Quick factual lookups from your data
- Calendar queries
- Contact information
- Recent activity
How to use cloud models
Call in a cloud model by choosing it before or during your conversation.Selecting a model
- In the query box: Click the model selector
- Choose your model: Pick GPT, Claude, Gemini, or Grok
- Ask your question: jo sends that conversation to the cloud
What gets sent
When you use a cloud model:- Only that conversation is sent
- Context you provide (any files or data you reference)
- Not your full index — your entire data stays local
You control context: jo asks what information to include before sending to a cloud model. You explicitly choose what context gets shared.
Example workflow
- Local search: “Find all my notes about the Q4 strategy”
- jo finds them using the local model
- Switch to Claude: “Now help me write a presentation deck”
- You confirm: jo asks “Send these 5 notes to Claude?”
- Claude analyzes: Only those notes are sent, not your entire data
Pricing model
Cloud models use pay-per-use pricing. No subscriptions.How it works
- Local queries: Always free
- Cloud queries: $0.01-0.05 per conversation
- No monthly fee: Pay only for what you use
- No commitment: Stop anytime
Average user
$5-10/month for occasional cloud model use
Power user
Under $20/month even with frequent cloud queries
Cost examples
| Query type | Model | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Simple search | Local | Free |
| Groupchat summary | Local | Free |
| Document analysis | GPT-4o | ~$0.02 |
| Long-form writing | Claude | ~$0.03 |
| Code generation | GPT-4o | ~$0.02 |
| Complex reasoning | GPT-5.2 | ~$0.05 |
Smart routing
jo automatically routes between fast and reasoning models based on your question.Fast models
For most queries:- GPT-4o (OpenAI)
- Claude 3.5 Sonnet (Anthropic)
- Response time: 1-3 seconds
Reasoning models
For complex problems:- GPT-5.2 (OpenAI)
- Claude 3.5 Opus (Anthropic)
- Response time: 10-30 seconds
- Higher accuracy on hard problems
Automatic selection: jo picks the right model speed based on your query complexity. You can also manually override if needed.
Connecting cloud models
Set up cloud models in jo’s preferences.First-time setup
- Open jo preferences
- Go to Models tab
- Add API key: For OpenAI, Anthropic, etc.
- Test connection: jo verifies it works
- Start using: Cloud models now available
API keys
You’ll need API keys from:- OpenAI: platform.openai.com/api-keys
- Anthropic: console.anthropic.com
- Google AI: ai.google.dev
Billing
You’re billed directly by the model provider:- OpenAI bills your OpenAI account
- Anthropic bills your Anthropic account
- Google bills your Google Cloud account
Privacy with cloud models
When you use a cloud model, that conversation is sent to the provider.What’s sent
- Your question
- Context you explicitly chose to include
- Previous messages in that conversation
What’s NOT sent
- Your full data index
- Other conversations
- Your entire photo library or email archive
- Anything you didn’t explicitly include
Provider privacy policies
Cloud providers have policies about data usage:- OpenAI: Doesn’t train on API data (per their terms)
- Anthropic: No training on customer data
- Google: Doesn’t train on Gemini API data
No training: Cloud inference uses providers with contracts that prevent training on your data.
Best practices
1. Start local
Try the local model first. It’s free, instant, and private.2. Be explicit about context
When using cloud models, clearly state what context to include.3. Use the right model
Pick the model that fits the task:- Simple search: Local model
- Quick analysis: GPT-4o
- Long-form writing: Claude
- Code generation: GPT-4o
- Complex reasoning: GPT-5.2
4. Review context before sending
When jo asks to send context to a cloud model, review what’s included:- Are you sharing sensitive information?
- Is all this context necessary?
- Can you be more selective?
5. Use local for sensitive data
For highly sensitive data (legal, medical, financial):Switching models mid-conversation
You can switch models during a conversation:- Start local: “Find my notes on the product roadmap”
- Switch to Claude: “Now help me write a memo about this”
- Back to local: “Find the email thread with stakeholders”
- Switch to GPT: “Draft responses to their concerns”
Seamless switching: jo maintains context when switching between models. Your conversation flows naturally.
Offline usage
Cloud models require internet. The local model works offline.When offline
- ✅ Search your data
- ✅ Summarize groupchats
- ✅ Find files and emails
- ❌ Cannot use GPT, Claude, Gemini, or Grok
Future models
jo will support new models as they’re released:- New versions from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google
- Additional model providers
- Specialized models for specific tasks
Stay updated: jo checks for new available models and adds them to your model selector automatically.