FAQ Overview

Common questions about Yukkai, answered in plain language.

Overview

Welcome to the Yukkai FAQ. This section answers the most common questions new and prospective users have about what Yukkai is, how it works, what it can access, and how to get started.

Yukkai is a native AI environment for macOS. Unlike a conventional chatbot that only returns text, Yukkai can reason, plan, use tools, work with files, browse the web, control applications, generate media, and coordinate multiple AI agents on complex projects.

The questions below are grouped into short Q&A entries. Each answer is kept concise and written for end users — no technical background required.

Q&A

What is Yukkai?

Yukkai is a native AI environment for macOS that can reason, use tools, work with files, browse the web, control applications, generate media, and coordinate multiple agents. It is designed to move from discussion to execution: it can analyze a request, build a plan, perform actions on your Mac, verify the result, and continue until the work is complete.

Yukkai is built around four principles:

  • Action — the AI can use tools instead of only returning text.
  • Choice — you can use Yukkai models, a personal OpenRouter key, or a

compatible local model.

  • Control — sensitive actions remain subject to user permissions and macOS

security.

  • Privacy — memories, settings, files, and security controls are managed

primarily on your devices.

Is Yukkai free?

Yukkai offers different ways to use AI:

  • A Yukkai account key unlocks built-in models such as Yukkai Fusion and

Yukkai Frontier.

  • A personal OpenRouter key lets you use compatible models billed directly

through your OpenRouter account. Availability and pricing are controlled by OpenRouter and the underlying provider.

  • A compatible local model can run entirely on your Mac with no cloud

dependency.

You are not locked into a single billing model. You can mix and match depending on your needs and budget.

Is Yukkai private?

Yes. Yukkai is designed so it can act on your behalf usefully without putting your sensitive information or your system at risk.

  • Memories and settings are saved exclusively on your Mac. Yukkai does not

store information about your interactions with AI on its own servers.

  • Yukkai's internal knowledge base is stored encrypted (AES-256-GCM) in the

app bundle.

  • Secrets stored in the Vault are never returned in clear text and are injected

client-side only when needed.

  • Yukkai applies multiple security layers to tools, files, stored settings,

and secrets.

For maximum privacy, you can use Yukkai Local for compatible text tasks and remove unnecessary sensitive information before sending requests to cloud models.

Can Yukkai access my files?

Yes, but only within the boundaries you control. Yukkai uses two complementary security mechanisms:

  • Tool Permissions — control which capabilities (file reading, shell

commands, browser access, etc.) are available. Each tool can be set to Allowed, Ask Every Time, or Denied.

  • PathGuard — protects specific file locations on your Mac. Sensitive

directories are guarded against unauthorized access, and destructive actions may require explicit confirmation.

macOS-level permissions (Accessibility, Full Disk Access, Screen Recording, etc.) apply on top of Yukkai's own protections. Yukkai will never advise bypassing these protections.

Can Yukkai browse the web?

Yes. Yukkai includes a native browser based on WebKit. It can:

  • Navigate websites and interact with page elements
  • Extract content from pages
  • Fill in forms and complete multi-step browser tasks
  • Download files
  • Take screenshots

You simply describe what you want in plain language — no need to provide exact technical steps. Yukkai can visit a page, read an article, search for something, or complete a workflow on your behalf.

Can Yukkai run code?

Yes. Yukkai can write and execute shell commands and scripts on your Mac. Shell execution is subject to the same permission system as all other tools:

  • The Bash tool must be Allowed or set to Ask Every Time.
  • PathGuard reviews the paths involved in each command.
  • Destructive or sensitive operations may require explicit confirmation.

This makes Yukkai suitable for development workflows, automation, data processing, and debugging — all within guardrails you control.

What models does Yukkai support?

Yukkai supports three categories of AI models:

Category Description
Yukkai models Built-in models (Fusion, Frontier) available with a Yukkai account key.
OpenRouter models Compatible models from multiple providers, billed through your personal OpenRouter account. You choose the provider, model identity, price, context size, speed, and specialized capabilities.
Local models Compatible models that run entirely on your Mac with no cloud dependency.

You can also store API keys for other services in the Vault. For example, register a Replicate key to access dozens of video models. Yukkai can connect to any API, and if that API is an LLM, use it to answer your questions.

Note: Yukkai Fusion and Yukkai Frontier are not available when using a
personal OpenRouter key. They require a Yukkai account key.

Is my data sent to the cloud?

It depends on the model you select:

  • Yukkai Local — runs entirely on your Mac. No data leaves your device.
  • Cloud models (Yukkai Fusion, Yukkai Frontier, or OpenRouter models) —

your prompt and any attached context are sent to the model provider for processing.

Yukkai's own memory, settings, and security controls are always stored on your Mac regardless of which model you use. The cloud round-trip is limited to the conversation with the chosen AI model.

Can I use my own API keys?

Yes. Yukkai supports Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) in two ways:

  1. OpenRouter key — paste your key in Settings, test it, and start using

compatible models billed through your OpenRouter account. You can check usage and limits where supported.

  1. Vault — store API keys for individual services (e.g., Replicate, OpenAI,

Anthropic, GitHub, Brave, Apify). Yukkai can make authenticated API calls on your behalf, with secrets injected client-side and never returned in clear text.

You can replace or remove keys at any time. Your keys remain on your Mac and are not shared with Yukkai's servers.

How do I get started?

  1. Install Yukkai on your Mac (requires macOS).
  2. Choose a model access method:

  • Sign in with a Yukkai account to use built-in models, or
  • Add a personal OpenRouter key in Settings, or
  • Configure a compatible local model.

  1. Review tool permissions — decide which tools the AI is allowed to use

(file access, web browser, shell, etc.).

  1. Start a conversation — describe what you want in plain language. Yukkai

will reason, plan, and execute within the boundaries you have set.

No technical setup is required for basic usage. Advanced features (custom skills, MCP servers, agent swarms) can be explored as you become more comfortable.

Tips

  • Start with Yukkai Local for privacy-sensitive tasks. Switch to a

cloud model when you need more advanced reasoning or tool capabilities.

  • Use "Ask Every Time" for powerful tools like Bash and the web browser.

This gives you a checkpoint before each action without fully disabling the capability.

  • Store API keys in the Vault rather than pasting them into conversation.

The Vault keeps secrets encrypted and injects them only when needed.

  • Check PathGuard warnings before approving file operations in sensitive

directories. Sensitive path approvals may expire at the end of your session for safety.

  • Verify macOS permissions if a tool is not working. Accessibility, Full

Disk Access, and Screen Recording are separate from Yukkai's own permission system and must be granted in System Settings.

  • Mix models strategically. Use a fast model for quick questions and a more

powerful model for complex multi-step workflows. You can switch at any time.

  • Explore the knowledge base. Yukkai's built-in documentation (User Guide,

Troubleshooting, Security & Privacy) is indexed for semantic search, so you can ask questions in plain language and get relevant answers.

Have a question that is not answered here? Ask Yukkai directly — it can search
its internal knowledge base and help you find the answer.

Last updated: July 19, 2026