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Build SpeedDeck buttons with AI

Describe a button or folder and SpeedDeck AI proposes it, or let it suggest macros from the apps you switch between. Nothing is added until you choose.

All plansUpdated

SpeedDeck AI builds buttons for you. Describe what you want, such as "media controls" or "screenshot", and it proposes up to three ways to do it, each a single button or a folder of buttons. Or turn on activity tracking and let it suggest buttons from the apps you keep switching between. Nothing is added until you choose a proposal.

Before you start

  • Plans. SpeedDeck AI is part of every plan.
  • AI needs to be set up. SpeedDeck AI runs on PlexiDesk AI credits when you are signed in, or on your own Anthropic key, which you add in Settings > AI. See AI credits and where your AI runs Coming soon.
  • Which deck. Proposals are added to the page of the deck you are looking at: the Task or Universal deck, and the folder you are in, if any.

Open SpeedDeck AI

Click AI at the top right of the SpeedDeck, beside Edit. The SpeedDeck AI window opens with two tabs: Build a macro and Suggest from my activity. Press Esc or click the close button to close it.

Build a macro

  1. On the Build a macro tab, type what you want under Describe what you want. A few words is enough, for example "media controls", "screenshot" or "copy and paste in one press".
  2. Click Generate. It shows Thinking… while it works.
  3. Read the proposals. When there is more than one, the list is headed with how many alternatives there are, for example 3 alternatives — pick one.
  4. Click Add beside the one you want.

The button or folder goes into the first empty slot on the page you are looking at, and SpeedDeck AI closes. A folder arrives with all of its buttons inside it.

What each proposal shows

  • A tag that says Single button, or Folder with the number of buttons inside it.
  • A preview of the button's icon, colour and label.
  • One line on what it does and why it matches your request.
  • A short summary of the action it runs, or the first few buttons in a folder.
  • Small conflict chips, when the proposal sends keyboard shortcuts, counting any that are reserved by macOS, already on this deck, or recognised standard shortcuts. They are the same checks the Action tab makes. See Shortcut conflict check.
  • How it works: click it to read, step by step, what happens when you press the button. For a folder, it also lists every button inside. Click Hide details to close it.

When the page is full

If every slot on the page already has a button, the proposals say so. When you click Add, a This page is full window asks for the number of the slot to replace, from 1 to 30. Type the number and click Replace slot, or cancel to keep the page as it is.

Suggest from my activity

SpeedDeck AI can look for patterns in how you work and suggest buttons for them. This needs activity tracking, which is off until you turn it on.

  1. Click the Suggest from my activity tab.
  2. Turn on Watch my workflow to suggest macros.
  3. Keep working as usual for a while, with PlexiDesk open.
  4. Come back to this tab and click Analyse my activity. It shows Analysing… while it works.
  5. Read the suggestions. Each one says why it is suggested. Click Add beside the one you want.

What is recorded

While tracking is on, PlexiDesk notes the names of the apps you switch between, checking every 10 seconds, and the SpeedDeck buttons you press. Nothing else is recorded: no keystrokes, no web addresses and no window titles. The log is kept on this computer.

When you click Analyse my activity, a short summary of the log is sent to the AI: the apps you used most in the last seven days, your most recent app switches and your most recent button presses.

Under the switch, Logged: shows how many app switches and button presses have been noted so far.

Pause or clear tracking

  • Pause. Turn Watch my workflow to suggest macros off. Nothing new is logged, and Analyse my activity is unavailable until you turn it back on.
  • Clear. Click Wipe all activity and confirm. This deletes everything logged so far and cannot be undone. Tracking stays on or off, as you left it.

If there is not enough activity yet, SpeedDeck AI says so. Leave tracking on while you work, then try again.

What SpeedDeck AI builds

SpeedDeck AI can build any action except Shell command: opening apps and web addresses, keyboard shortcuts, typing text, media and volume controls, and multi-step macros with delays. Shell command buttons are always ones you write yourself. After you add a proposal, you can change anything about it in edit mode, like any other button. See SpeedDeck actions and multi-step macros.

If the reply cannot be read

Now and then the AI's reply is not in a form SpeedDeck AI can turn into buttons. When that happens, it says so and shows the reply under Raw model response, so you can see what came back. Reword your request, or make it more specific, and click Generate again.

The AI button on the title bar

Every widget's title bar has an AI button at the left of its controls. On a SpeedDeck, that button attaches the SpeedDeck to Plexii, your assistant, and opens the assistant panel so you can ask about it. To build buttons, use the AI button at the top of the SpeedDeck itself. See Use a widget's AI button.

Common questions

Does SpeedDeck AI add anything without asking?

No. It only proposes. A button or folder is added when you click Add, and you can remove it afterwards like any other button.

Why is Analyse my activity greyed out?

Tracking is off. Turn on Watch my workflow to suggest macros first, then use your computer for a while so there is something to analyse.

Can I keep tracking on but delete what it has logged?

Yes. Wipe all activity clears the log and leaves the switch as it is.

SpeedDeck AI says it needs a key

Sign in to use PlexiDesk AI credits, or add your own Anthropic key in Settings > AI. See Add your own API keys.

Still need help? Contact support at [email protected].