# Model and instructions

> Pick the model that writes your suggestions, give it your own instructions, and run it again over your library.

- Page: https://resurf.so/guides/ai-model
- Section: AI
- Works on: Mac, iPhone, iPad
- Last checked against the app: 2026-10-17
- Mac: Settings → AI
- iPhone and iPad: Settings → AI → Model

## Choose a model

Resurf picks a model when you connect a provider, except for Ollama. This model writes suggestions, voice note titles and clean-ups, and generated notes. The [Assistant](https://resurf.so/guides/ask-ai) has its own model menu on Mac.

On Mac:

1. Choose **Settings…** (`⌘,`) and click **AI** in the sidebar.
2. Click the **Model** button. Models are grouped by provider.
3. Pick one. Ollama models are listed last and are checked the first time you pick one.

On iPhone and iPad:

1. In Resurf's Settings, tap **Model**, under AI.
2. Pick a model. If it needs a check, Resurf tests it first.

If the model can't see images, Resurf uses a vision model from the same provider, or organizes images from their text. On Mac, the line under **Model** says which.

## Custom instructions

Tell suggestions how to write titles, tags, spaces and summaries. You edit them on Mac; they sync through iCloud and apply on iPhone and iPad too. They don't change the Assistant, voice note titles or generated notes.

On Mac:

1. In **Settings → AI**, click **Custom instructions…**
2. Type in any of **General**, **Title**, **Tags**, **Spaces** and **Summary**. Blank fields use the defaults.
3. Click **Done**. Your text saves as you type.

New instructions apply to new suggestions. To update captures you already have, [reprocess your library](https://resurf.so/guides/ai-model#reprocess).

## Reprocess your library

Runs suggestions again for everything you've saved, with the current model and instructions. It makes one request to your provider per capture, which may cost usage.

On Mac:

1. Make sure **Suggest as you capture** is on in **Settings → AI**.
2. Click **Reprocess** beside **Reprocess library…**
3. Click **Reprocess** to confirm.

Existing summaries and keywords are cleared first and come back as each capture is processed. On iPhone and iPad, use [Generate missing suggestions](https://resurf.so/guides/ai-suggestions#again) instead.

## Questions

### Why do my photos only get text-based suggestions?

Your model can't see images and your provider has no vision model Resurf can use, so images are organized from the text in them.

### Where do I pick the Assistant's model?

In the Assistant on Mac, with the button at the left of the composer.

### Will reprocessing cost money?

It can. It makes one request to your provider for each capture.

## More guides

- Previous: [AI suggestions](https://resurf.so/guides/ai-suggestions.md)
- Next: [Assistant](https://resurf.so/guides/ask-ai.md)
- [AI providers](https://resurf.so/guides/ai-providers.md): Connect your own AI provider with your own key. Resurf's AI features stay off until you do.
- [AI suggestions](https://resurf.so/guides/ai-suggestions.md): When you save something, your AI provider writes a title, a summary and keywords for it, and suggests spaces.
- [Assistant](https://resurf.so/guides/ask-ai.md): Ask questions about your library in a chat pane on Mac, and get answers that cite the captures they used.
- [Voice notes and AI](https://resurf.so/guides/voice-ai.md): Transcribe voice notes on your device or with OpenAI, and let your model title them, tidy the transcript and write notes.
- [What AI sends](https://resurf.so/guides/ai-privacy.md): What each AI feature sends to your provider, and when nothing is sent at all.
- [Every guide](https://resurf.so/llms.txt)