What it is
From version 0.9.2, Shotbox has a Connect AI page in the main window and in Settings. For an AI client that speaks MCP or HTTP, such as Claude, you can create a separate connection, choose its scope, and copy the MCP or HTTP config shown on the page into the client.
What the AI can do
- Read incremental records of new screenshots and the clipboard, in other words "what is new".
- Tag, categorize, add to collections or archive screenshots, within the scope you grant.
- Answer questions like "what did I capture today", as long as you granted the matching scope.
What it cannot do
- It cannot delete content.
- It cannot overwrite titles and text you have edited.
- Every step is auditable and reversible.
- Original images, body text and sensitive clipboard items are authorized separately, so granting one does not open the others.
Where the data goes
All access is bound to 127.0.0.1 on your Mac and does not pass through our servers, and connection keys are stored only as hashes. What your AI client then does with what it reads depends on the client and the model service you use, and that part is outside Shotbox's control. Choose scopes with that in mind: the less you grant, the safer.
Getting started
- Open Connect AI in Shotbox (the sidebar entry, or the AI access group in Settings).
- Create a new connection for your client and tick the scopes you want to grant.
- Copy the config shown and paste it into the MCP settings of Claude or another client.
- Ask the client "what did I capture today" to confirm it can read.
- When you are done, go back to Connect AI and revoke it.
Automated protocol-level tests cover this path, but each client's setup screen differs, so follow the client's own MCP documentation the first time.
FAQ
Can an AI client delete my screenshots?
No. According to the release notes, AI cannot delete content and cannot overwrite titles and text you have edited.
Does the connection go through the cloud?
No. All access happens on this Mac at 127.0.0.1, and connection keys are stored only as hashes.
Can I disconnect at any time?
Yes. The Connect AI page lists connected clients and lets you revoke any of them.
