Bring Your Own AI
Already have Claude, ChatGPT, or another AI? Point it at your Elysium data folder and it can read and write your schedule directly.
On this page
How it works
When you enable BYOAI in Elysium, the app creates an OpenTime folder on your device and auto-generates a README.md inside it. This file documents the complete .ot file format — including all standard OpenTime fields and Elysium-specific extensions.
Point your AI at that folder and it will be able to read and write your schedule correctly — creating tasks, goals, events, and more in the exact format Elysium expects.
Enable BYOAI
Settings → AI → Bring Your Own AI
Folder is created
OpenTime folder + README.md auto-generated on your device
Point your AI
Give your AI read/write access to that folder
Supported AI tools
| AI tool | Support | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Claude + OpenClaw | Full ✓ | Recommended — works via Telegram, great for phone use |
| ChatGPT (file access) | Full ✓ | Requires ChatGPT Plus with file access enabled |
| Claude (claude.ai) | Partial | Upload .ot files manually each session |
| Local models (Ollama, LM Studio) | Partial | Only if the model supports file read/write tools |
Enable BYOAI in Elysium
- 1.Open Settings in Elysium.
- 2.Go to AI → Bring Your Own AI.
- 3.Tap Enable. Elysium creates the OpenTime folder and generates
README.mdinside it. - 4.Note the folder path shown — you'll need it for your AI setup.
To regenerate the README manually: Settings → AI → Bring Your Own AI → Regenerate.
Claude + OpenClaw (recommended)
OpenClaw is a Telegram bot that gives Claude access to files on your Mac or iPhone. This is the best BYOAI setup for phone use — you can manage your schedule from Telegram while away from your computer.
Setup steps
- 1.Install OpenClaw from the App Store and follow the setup to connect your Claude API key.
- 2.In OpenClaw, grant it access to your OpenTime folder (the one Elysium created in Settings → AI → BYOAI).
- 3.In Telegram, open your OpenClaw bot and send a message. Claude will automatically find and read the
README.mdin your folder. - 4.Start scheduling: "Add a task: finish the presentation by Thursday at 5pm."
ChatGPT with file access
ChatGPT with file access (available on ChatGPT Plus) can read and write files on your computer when given access through a connected tool.
Setup steps
- 1.Make sure you have ChatGPT Plus with file access or the desktop app with computer use enabled.
- 2.Start a new conversation and upload your
README.mdfrom the OpenTime folder, or paste its contents directly. - 3.Tell ChatGPT the path to your OpenTime folder so it can read and write
.otfiles. - 4.Begin scheduling: "Based on the format in the README, add these tasks to my schedule..."
Note: ChatGPT file write access depends on the tool configuration. Check the ChatGPT docs for the latest on computer use capabilities.
Local models (Ollama, LM Studio, etc.)
Local models can work with BYOAI if they support tool use / function calling with file system access. Most out-of-the-box local model setups don't include file tools, so you'll need to configure this manually.
If your local model setup supports file tools, point it at your OpenTime folder and give it the README.md as a system prompt reference. The format is plain YAML — most capable models understand it well.
Example prompts
Use these to get started. Adjust to match your AI tool's interface.
“Read the README.md in my OpenTime folder, then add a task: finish the proposal by Friday at 6pm.”
“Create a project called "Home Renovation" with goals for plumbing, painting, and flooring, each with a target date next month.”
“Move all tasks scheduled for this Friday to next Monday. Keep the event times unchanged.”
“I need to study 4 hours for an exam on Thursday. Add focused study sessions across my evenings this week.”
“Set up a daily habit: 20-minute morning walk at 7am, every weekday.”
“What tasks do I have due this week? Which ones don't have a scheduled time yet?”