How to Use Raycast AI in 2026: Step-by-Step Guide
AI assistant integrated into Raycast's macOS launcher, providing instant access to AI chat, writing assistance, code generation, and custom AI commands from any application.
Raycast AI is the AI layer inside Raycast, a macOS productivity launcher. While Raycast started as a Spotlight/Alfred replacement for quickly launching apps, searching files, and running shortcuts, Raycast AI makes it a persistent AI assistant accessible from anywhere on your Mac with a keyboard shortcut.
AI Chat: A floating chat window accessible system-wide via keyboard shortcut (typically Option+Space) that connects to multiple AI models — Claude, GPT-4o, Gemini, and others — depending on your settings. Unlike opening a browser tab for ChatGPT, the chat floats above whatever you're working on and remembers context within a session.
AI Commands: Pre-built and custom AI commands apply AI transformations to selected text or the current clipboard. Built-in examples: "Improve Writing," "Fix Spelling and Grammar," "Translate to French," "Summarize Web Page," "Explain Code," and "Ask AI." Users can create custom commands with their own prompts — saved and triggered via keyboard shortcut.
Browser integration: The Raycast browser extension enables AI actions on any webpage — summarize an article, ask questions about the content, extract information, or translate selected text.
Extensions ecosystem: The Raycast extension store includes AI-enhanced extensions from third-party developers for specific tools — GitHub, Linear, Notion, Slack, Jira — with AI actions built into the workflow (e.g., generate a PR description from commits, summarize Slack threads).
Code tools: Raycast AI includes code explanation, generation from natural language, and refactoring suggestions for selected code, accessible from any editor via the global shortcut.
Model selection: Users can choose which AI model to use per-session, switching between Claude and GPT-4o based on the task.
Pricing: Raycast itself is free for individuals. Raycast Pro ($8/month) is required for AI features. Teams plans add shared snippets, central extension management, and admin controls.
What You'll Need
- A Raycast AI account (free to create)
- A modern web browser or the Raycast AI app
- Payment method for paid features
Getting Started
Create Your Account
Visit https://www.raycast.com and sign up for a freemium account. You'll need an email address to register. A free tier is available — you can upgrade later for more features.
Start Your First Conversation
Once logged in, you'll see the main chat interface. Type a question or task in the input box and press Enter. Raycast AI supports ai-assistant, productivity, developer-tools, text-transformation, launcher — start with a simple text prompt to get familiar.
Pro Tips
- Be specific: The more context you provide, the better the response. Instead of "write an email," try "write a professional follow-up email to a client who hasn't responded in two weeks."
- Iterate: If you don't get what you need, ask for clarification or refinement: "Make it shorter" or "Use a more formal tone."
- Use examples: Show Raycast AI what format you want by including an example in your prompt.
- Save useful conversations: Most platforms let you name and revisit conversations — organize by project or topic.
Common Use Cases
Productivity
AI tools for task management, scheduling, summarization, and workflow optimization.
Browse Productivity chatbots →Programming & Code
AI assistants focused on writing, debugging, and explaining code across programming languages.
Browse Programming & Code chatbots →Troubleshooting
- Responses seem generic or unhelpful
- Add more context to your prompt. Specify the audience, tone, length, and format you need. Try starting over with a clearer description of your goal.
- The tool isn't responding or is slow
- AI chatbots can experience high traffic. Refresh the page and try again. Check the service's status page if issues persist.
- Output is too long or too short
- Explicitly specify the length: "in 100 words," "as a brief summary," or "in detail with examples."
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Is Raycast AI free to use?
- Raycast AI has a free tier. Paid plans start from $8/mo.
- Do I need an account to use Raycast AI?
- Yes, you need to create an account to use Raycast AI.
- What can I use Raycast AI for?
- AI assistant integrated into Raycast's macOS launcher, providing instant access to AI chat, writing assistance, code generation, and custom AI commands from any application.
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