Surf
Personal AI Notebooks. Organize files & webpages and generate notes from them. Open source, local & open data, open model choice (incl. local).
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What is Surf?
Deta Surf is an intelligent AI notebook that brings your files and the web directly into your stream of thought, designed for simultaneous research and thinking. It minimizes manual grunt work like searching, opening windows and tabs, scrolling, and copying-pasting into document editors. Surf combines a browser, file manager, and AI assistant into one local-first, context-aware workspace.
The tool lets you create notebooks to collect websites, images, PDFs, YouTube videos, and notes all in one place. You can ask questions about your content, get summaries, create interactive graphs and applets without writing code, and make sense of hours of YouTube videos, hundred-page PDFs, foreign languages, and scientific diagrams. Notes include citations that link directly to sources.
Surf is built for students, researchers, engineers, designers, and knowledge workers who want to explore their interests from another level. It's handcrafted in Berlin, runs on MacOS, Windows, and Linux, stores data locally in open formats, and is open source. Users can choose open models including local options.
Key features include vertical tabs in a clean sidebar, the ability to import local files by drag-and-drop, personalization through sketches on notebooks, dark mode, Surflets (own little apps), and a general chat feature for querying, summarizing, and translating content.
Surf pricing
Pricing model: Freemium
Everything is currently free during the Beta phase. The local-first core will remain free and private. Eventually, paid tiers may cover cloud storage and sync features, but specific pricing details for paid plans have not been announced yet.
Surf pros
- Local-first data storage with everything saved directly on your device
- Open source with transparent code and community development
- Works on MacOS, Windows, and Linux with cross-platform compatibility
- Open data formats that you can access and manage yourself
- Choice of AI models including local LLM options and your own API key
- Vertical tabs in a clean sidebar layout for organized browsing
- Automatic citations linking notes directly to source pages
- Drag-and-drop import of PDFs, images, and documents
- Create interactive graphs and applets without writing code
- Summarize hours of YouTube videos and hundred-page PDFs
- Understand foreign languages and scientific diagrams with AI
- Dark mode for easy viewing day or night
- Surflets let you create custom little apps to explain things
- Draw sketches directly onto notebooks for personalization
- Isolated sandbox for running untrusted web content safely
- Less scrolling, typing, and copying than traditional browsers
Surf cons
- Currently in Beta with some features still evolving
- Missing some Alpha features like Vision and desktops for now
- Invite-only/early access limits who can use it
- Not yet a full Chrome replacement for all browsing needs
- Built on Electron which adds overhead from Chromium browser engine
- Some smart features send context to Deta's servers for LLM processing
- Active development means there will be bugs
- Future paid tiers may be needed for cloud storage and sync
Frequently asked questions about Surf
What is Beta?
Surf is currently in Beta, which means the core foundation is in place but it's still evolving. You might notice some features missing compared to early demos and alpha versions. This is intentional - the team is focusing on essentials first. Favorite features aren't gone; they plan to bring many back as they refine and ship updates.
How is my data kept secure?
Surf is local-first. Everything you save - notes, notebooks, and resources - is stored directly on your device. You can open the Surf data folder yourself and move or delete files however you like. Untrusted web content runs in an isolated sandbox. For smart features, pages that are 'in context' via @ mentions are sent to LLMs on Deta's servers, but you can also use your own API key or connect to a local language model.
Is Surf a browser or an AI browser?
Web browsers are tools for consuming, but Surf takes inspiration from the personal notebook. It's built to help people explore, think, and create using web pages as material in the process. While some features integrate large language models, the team doesn't think 'AI' or talking with a machine is an end goal, just one of many means to enhance thinking.
Is Surf built on Electron?
Yes, Surf uses Electron. Electron enables apps to work across Mac, Windows, and Linux by including the Chromium browser engine (what Google Chrome is based on). For an app that needs browsing functionality, a browser engine is necessary. Electron gives small teams the ability to maintain web compatibility while re-thinking interactions with it. The team considers Electron a very good technology.
Why does the Beta feel different from the Alpha?
The Alpha was full of experiments including desktops, Surflets, vision, live contexts, and 'go wild' mode. The Beta is a rebuild with a new foundation focused on performance and simplicity. Some Alpha features are missing for now, but the team plans to bring the right ones back over time in a way that works with the new design.
Will my favorite features return?
Yes. Fan favorites like Vision and more personalization are on the roadmap. Some features had to be paused while rebuilding the core, but the team knows how much they mean to users. The Beta is a starting point, not the finish line.
What platforms does Surf run on?
Surf runs on MacOS, Windows, and Linux. It's built primarily in Svelte, TypeScript, and Rust, with Electron enabling cross-platform compatibility.
Can I use my own AI model?
Yes. You can use your own API key or connect Surf to a local language model. The tool supports open model choice including local options, giving you control over which AI powers your experience.
How do I join the Beta?
You can join the open Beta for Surf by visiting deta.surf. The tool is currently in Beta with core foundation in place. You can apply for early access through the website and download the appropriate installation file for your operating system.
What file types can I import?
You can drag and drop PDFs, images, videos (including YouTube), documents, screenshots, and other files straight into your workspace. Surf supports saving a variety of file types and automatically organizes them into different contexts within your notebooks.