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Set up AI for Unyson+

Two Unyson+ features use an AI model: the ✦ AI Assistant chat panel (it builds and edits pages from a request) and the Site Converter's optional AI assist (it refines a conversion). Both work with any of three sources, and both run the AI on your computer, through the free AI Dev Kit, unless you give WordPress a provider key.

SourceCostQualityWorks for
Your Claude subscription, through Claude CodeIncluded in the subscriptionBestAI Assistant, Site Converter
An API keyPay per useBestAI Assistant (a key in WordPress), Site Converter (a key in the kit)
A free local model, through OllamaFreeGood for one section at a timeAI Assistant, Site Converter

Everything below starts from the AI Dev Kit. Get it from GitHub, then run start-converter.bat (Windows) or start-converter.command (macOS). The first run downloads what it needs; keep the window open while you work. Its dashboard opens at http://localhost:4600.

Use your Claude subscription (Claude Code)​

A Claude subscription needs no API key: Claude Code signs in with your account, and the kit uses it.

  1. Install Claude Code. Windows (PowerShell): 
    irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex
    macOS / Linux: 
    curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash
  2. Open a new terminal and check claude --version works (add ~/.local/bin to PATH if needed).
  3. Run claude once, sign in with your Claude account, then type /exit.
  4. Restart the kit. Its window should say AI ON — Claude Code subscription.

Now:

  • AI Assistant: open it in WordPress (Unyson+ → AI Assistant, then Check again). It says Connected: Claude — your Claude subscription, through the AI Dev Kit on this computer. This works on a hosted site too: your browser talks to the kit, and the kit's Claude Code talks to your site with a one-off password that is deleted when each answer is back.
  • Site Converter: tick AI assist when converting.

Each request counts toward your subscription's normal usage limits.

Use an API key (pay per use)​

  • AI Assistant: add a key from your AI provider under WordPress's Settings → Connectors (WordPress 7 or newer). The assistant uses it automatically.
  • Site Converter: create a key at console.anthropic.com (it needs billing and is separate from a Claude subscription) and start the capture service with it: 
    $env:ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="sk-ant-..."; node serve.mjs
    ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-... node serve.mjs

The kit's key stays in the kit on your computer; it is never sent to or stored in WordPress.

Use a free local model (Ollama)​

The AI Dev Kit includes Ollama, which runs open models on your own computer: free and private.

  1. In the kit's dashboard, open Settings → Local AI models.
  2. Download Qwen3 8B (most PCs) or Qwen3 4B (smaller PCs).
  3. Select it.

Your own models. Under the list, Add a model takes any name from ollama.com/library (for example llama3.1:8b) or a Hugging Face link to a GGUF model (https://huggingface.co/<user>/<model>-GGUF). Import a .gguf file registers a model file already on your computer. Press Check on any model to see whether it can do the Unyson+ tasks: it grades Ready, Weak or Not suitable.

What to expect. A local model is slower and less capable than Claude. Ask the AI Assistant for one change at a time, such as "Add a FAQ section with three questions", not a whole site. On a mid-range laptop graphics card (6 GB) with Qwen3 8B, a FAQ section took about a minute and a three-card feature section about six. If Claude Code is also signed in, the kit uses Claude instead.

Use Ollama without the kit (AI Assistant only)​

If you already run Ollama, point the AI Assistant at it directly: in WordPress set Unyson+ → AI Assistant → Advanced → AI model → Local AI address to http://localhost:11434, and allow your site in Ollama's OLLAMA_ORIGINS setting (for example OLLAMA_ORIGINS=https://your-site.com), then restart Ollama.

Browsers​

The AI Assistant reaches the kit from your browser. Use Chrome, Edge or Firefox, and allow it the first time the browser asks whether the site may access devices on your network. Safari does not let web pages talk to programs on your computer.

Troubleshooting​

SymptomFix
The kit says "no AI backend"Sign in to Claude Code, set ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, or select a local model; then restart the kit
claude --version is not recognizedAdd the install folder to PATH and open a new terminal, or set CLAUDE_CLI to the program's full path
You want a specific Claude modelSet ANTHROPIC_MODEL before starting the kit
The AI Assistant says "Not connected yet"Start the kit, then press Check again. On a live site, make sure the browser allowed access to your network
"Your AI Dev Kit is too old"Update the kit, or set the Local AI address to Ollama (above)
A local model answers but does badlyPress Check on it in the dashboard; pick a model that grades Ready

See also​