AI Tooling & Setup Guide

What you need

• Use a paid ChatGPT account. Use your company's managed workspace when one is available, especially if you need to share custom GPTs privately with colleagues. Check the official ChatGPT pricing page for current plans.

How to install

1. Open chatgpt.com in a current browser.
2. Sign in with the approved account you will use for work.
3. Upload a harmless test document and confirm you can start a chat.
4. Open Settings > Apps and confirm that only services approved by your organisation are connected.

Nuances

• Need local folders or Computer Use? See ChatGPT Desktop, the installed surface in this guide.
• Building and editing a custom GPT is web-only. A paid plan can create one, while private sharing with colleagues requires a managed Business or Enterprise workspace.
• A ChatGPT subscription does not include API access. The API is a separate service and is not needed for browser-based use.
• Use your approved work account and your organisation's data rules. Prefer synthetic or anonymised material where possible.

If it will not work

• If sign-in or uploads are blocked, ask IT whether ChatGPT is disabled or filtered on the corporate network.
• If Settings > Apps is missing or disabled, ask the ChatGPT workspace owner whether Apps are allowed for your role.
• If it is still blocked, ask IT to test the same action on your managed device.

What you need

• Use a ChatGPT account. The app works with Free, Go, Plus, Pro, Business, Enterprise and Edu. Check the official ChatGPT pricing page for current plan details.

How to install

1. Go to the Download ChatGPT page.
2. On macOS, choose Download for macOS (Apple Silicon), or use the arrow for another build, then open the disk image and drag the app into Applications. On Windows, run the Microsoft web installer offered on the page and let it finish; you do not need to open Microsoft Store yourself.
3. Open the app and sign in with your ChatGPT account.
4. Choose where to work: start a chat, create a project or open a folder. The app can read and change files in the folder you select.
5. Send a first message. Use the ChatGPT / Codex selector and the Chat / Work toggle above the composer.

Nuances

• Prefer the browser? See ChatGPT in this guide. Since 9 July 2026, Codex is part of the ChatGPT desktop app on macOS and Windows, so there is no separate Codex desktop app. The Codex CLI, IDE extension and cloud service still exist separately.
• Codex runs natively on Windows through PowerShell and the Windows sandbox. WSL2 is optional, not required.
• The macOS installer is still named Codex.dmg and a compatibility bundle remains at /Applications/Codex.app. Intel Macs are supported, but Intel users must choose their build from the download dropdown.
• There is no Linux desktop app. Linux users can use the Codex CLI.
• Computer Use on macOS needs System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording and Accessibility for Codex Computer Use. On Windows it controls the pointer on the active desktop.
• For users in the EEA, the UK and Switzerland, memories are off by default.

If it will not work

• If a feature works in the Codex CLI but not in the app, compare codex --version with /Applications/Codex.app/Contents/Resources/codex --version; the two surfaces can bundle different Codex versions.
• If macOS keeps asking for folder access, approve access to Music, Downloads or Desktop, or choose a narrower folder.
• If a chat looks stuck, check whether it is waiting for an approval, then start a new chat with a smaller prompt.
• If Computer Use cannot see or control an app, check Screen Recording and Accessibility for Codex Computer Use. On Windows, make sure the target app is visible on the active desktop.
• If it is still blocked, tell us before the session, not on the day.

What you need

• Use a paid Claude account or an approved company workspace. Check the official Claude pricing page for current plans.

How to install

1. Open claude.ai in a current browser.
2. Sign in with the approved account you will use for work.
3. On a personal account, open Privacy Settings > Model Improvement and confirm the setting matches your organisation's data policy.
4. Upload a harmless test document. If you need a connector, open Settings > Connectors and connect only an approved service.

Nuances

• On personal plans, conversation and coding data is not used for model improvement by default. It is used only if you explicitly enable Privacy Settings > Model Improvement, or if content is flagged for safety review.
• On Team and Enterprise, Anthropic's Commercial Terms contractually exclude customer content from model training.
• Incognito chats are never used for model improvement. They are still subject to your organisation's data policy.

If it will not work

• If a feature is missing, check whether you are in the intended account and workspace before changing anything.
• If a connector shows Request instead of Connect, a Team or Enterprise Owner must approve it under Admin settings > Connectors > Requested by your team.
• If it is still blocked, ask the workspace owner to check the organisation policy.

What you need

• Use the same paid Claude account as in the browser. Start from the official Claude download page and use the installer offered for your operating system.

How to install

1. Go to claude.com/download and choose the current macOS or Windows download.
2. Install the app and sign in with the same approved Claude account you use in the browser.
3. Open a harmless local file from a folder you deliberately grant access to and confirm the app can use it.
4. Check for app updates before relying on Desktop for local work.

Nuances

• Desktop is the full route when a task needs local files, browser use or computer access. Keep an active internet connection while working.
• On managed Windows, IT should support deployment of the MSIX. A standard user can install it, but full feature support, including Cowork, requires administrator-supported deployment.
• For local server configuration, always open the file through Settings > Developer > Edit Config instead of browsing to a guessed %APPDATA% path.
• Grant access only to the folders needed for the task, not an entire drive.

If it will not work

• If the MSIX install is blocked, send the IT section of this guide to your endpoint administrator.
• If the app opens but Cowork is missing on Windows, the standard-user installation has reached its feature ceiling; IT must support the deployment.
• If Cowork will not start, check pending Windows updates and features with IT.

What you need

• Use a paid Claude plan (Pro, Max, Team or Enterprise; Cowork is not on the free plan) and install Claude Desktop first. Cowork runs inside that app.

How to install

1. Install Claude Desktop and sign in, as described in the Claude Desktop card.
2. Open Cowork from Claude Desktop.
3. Select a short local folder that you deliberately grant access to.
4. Give it a small harmless task and watch the full run before using it on important work.

Nuances

• Cowork is where you describe an outcome and step away, rather than chatting turn by turn. Keep an active internet connection while it works.
• On managed Windows, full Cowork support needs the Claude Desktop app deployed with administrator support. A standard-user install may leave Cowork unavailable.
• Versions on the web and on mobile are still in beta and roll out gradually. Desktop remains the full route for local files, browser use and computer access.
• Connectors are called from Anthropic's cloud rather than from your laptop, so systems that are only reachable inside your network will not work.
• Cowork activity is not included in enterprise audit logs or the Compliance API. Worth telling your security contact before you point it at sensitive material.

If it will not work

• If Cowork does not appear in the app, confirm the app is up to date and that IT deployed it with administrator support.
• If Cowork will not start on Windows, check pending Windows updates and features with IT.
• If a connected internal system cannot be reached, confirm that it has a secure public endpoint.

What you need

• Use a paid Claude account and a supported terminal. The native installer is self-contained. Follow the official Claude Code installation guide for current requirements.

How to install

1. Windows: open a normal PowerShell window and run irm https://claude.ai/install.ps1 | iex.
2. macOS: open Terminal and run curl -fsSL https://claude.ai/install.sh | bash.
3. Close and reopen the terminal, then run claude --version and claude doctor.
4. On Windows, start from a short local working folder such as C:\ai, outside Documents and OneDrive.

Nuances

• Claude Code no longer needs Node or Git, and its native installer does not need administrator rights. Git for Windows is optional but useful; without it Claude Code uses PowerShell.
• Native Windows is supported and WSL is not required. Sandboxing is not available on native Windows; use WSL 2 only when your IT policy or Linux toolchain requires it.
• The Windows installer supports Windows 10 1809 or later, installs to %USERPROFILE%\.local\bin\claude.exe and does not need an elevated terminal.
• On Windows, keep your working folder short and local, such as C:\ai, outside Documents and OneDrive. Keep CLAUDE_CONFIG_DIR local too.

If it will not work

• If claude is not found, fully close and reopen the terminal before trying anything else.
• If Git is installed but not detected, point CLAUDE_CODE_GIT_BASH_PATH at the Git Bash executable.
• If Claude reports a write as successful but no file appears, move the project to a short local path and confirm Windows long paths are enabled.
• If the installer is blocked by policy, ask IT to allow the user-space native installer.

What you need

• Use a paid Claude plan and Google Chrome. Check the official Claude pricing page for current plan details.

How to install

1. Open the official Chrome Web Store listing called Claude and verify that the publisher is Anthropic.
2. Click Add to Chrome, then pin the extension and sign in with your Claude account.
3. Start with manual approvals and allow only the sites needed for the task.
4. Open a harmless page and confirm the extension can read it before allowing actions.

Nuances

• Edge is not supported, even though it is Chromium-based. If your company standardises on Edge, Chrome must be installed alongside it.
• Team organisations enable Claude in Chrome by default. Enterprise organisations disable it by default until an admin enables it at Organization settings > Claude in Chrome.
• IT can force-install the extension with Chrome policy ExtensionSettings or ExtensionInstallForcelist.
• There is no Claude app for Microsoft Teams. Teams content is reached through the Microsoft 365 connector, subject to your existing permissions.

If it will not work

• If the store or the extension is blocked, ask IT to allow it. They will need the extension ID fcoeoabgfenejglbffodgkkbkcdhcgfn, which is also in the IT page at the end of this guide.
• If it opens but cannot act, check the site's permission and your organisation's Claude in Chrome setting.
• If it is still blocked, ask IT to test the policy with your managed Chrome profile.

What you need

• Use a paid Claude plan and a Microsoft 365 subscription build of Word. Check the official Claude pricing page for current plan details.

How to install

1. Start at claude.com/claude-for-microsoft-365 rather than searching the store for “Claude”.
2. Follow the link on that page to the Microsoft Marketplace listing called Claude for Microsoft 365. One listing covers Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
3. In Word, open Home or Insert > Add-ins, select the official add-in and sign in.
4. Open a harmless document and confirm Claude can read the selected text.

Nuances

• Word is in beta. Do not use it for final client work, counterparty sends, litigation filings or audit-critical documents without human review.
• The add-in does not work on perpetual Office 2016 or 2019. It requires a Microsoft 365 subscription build.
• Claude for Word is not supported on iPad.
• Work across Microsoft 365 apps is on for personal paid plans and off by default for Team and Enterprise until an owner enables Organization settings > Office agents > Let Claude work across apps.

If it will not work

• If the add-in is missing, IT should deploy asset WA200010725 or use the verified Word manifest in the IT section.
• Allow 24 to 72 hours after admin deployment for it to appear on the ribbon.
• If the add-in appears but its pane stays blank, ask IT to allow pivot.claude.ai.

What you need

• Use a paid Claude plan and a Microsoft 365 subscription build of Excel. Check the official Claude pricing page for current plan details.

How to install

1. Start at claude.com/claude-for-microsoft-365 rather than searching the store for “Claude”.
2. Follow the link on that page to the Microsoft Marketplace listing called Claude for Microsoft 365. One listing covers Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
3. In Excel, open Home or Insert > Add-ins, select the official add-in and sign in.
4. Open a harmless workbook and confirm Claude can read a selected range.

Nuances

• Excel is the dependable spreadsheet add-in and also works on iPad. Review formulas, citations and changed cells before you rely on the result.
• The add-in does not work on perpetual Office 2016 or 2019. It requires a Microsoft 365 subscription build.
• The Office add-ins do not inherit an organisation's custom retention setting, and their activity is absent from Enterprise audit logs, the Compliance API and data exports.
• Work across Microsoft 365 apps is on for personal paid plans and off by default for Team and Enterprise until an owner enables Organization settings > Office agents > Let Claude work across apps.

If it will not work

• If the add-in is missing, IT should deploy asset WA200010725 or use the verified Excel manifest in the IT section.
• Allow 24 to 72 hours after admin deployment for it to appear on the ribbon.
• If the add-in appears but its pane stays blank, ask IT to allow pivot.claude.ai.

What you need

• Use a paid Claude plan and a Microsoft 365 subscription build of PowerPoint. Check the official Claude pricing page for current plan details.

How to install

1. Start at claude.com/claude-for-microsoft-365 rather than searching the store for “Claude”.
2. Follow the link on that page to the Microsoft Marketplace listing called Claude for Microsoft 365. One listing covers Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
3. In PowerPoint, open Home or Insert > Add-ins, select the official add-in and sign in.
4. Open a harmless deck and confirm Claude can read the current slide.

Nuances

• PowerPoint is the dependable presentation add-in. Review facts, structure and visual consistency before sharing a deck.
• The add-in does not work on perpetual Office 2016 or 2019. It requires a Microsoft 365 subscription build and is not supported on iPad.
• Work across Microsoft 365 apps can read context in one supported Office app and use it in another. It is off by default for Team and Enterprise until an owner enables Organization settings > Office agents > Let Claude work across apps.
• The Office add-ins do not inherit an organisation's custom retention setting, and their activity is absent from Enterprise audit logs, the Compliance API and data exports.

If it will not work

• If the add-in is missing, IT should deploy asset WA200010725 or use the verified PowerPoint manifest in the IT section.
• Allow 24 to 72 hours after admin deployment for it to appear on the ribbon.
• If the add-in appears but its pane stays blank, ask IT to allow pivot.claude.ai.

What you need

• Use a paid Claude plan, Outlook and an Exchange Online mailbox. Check the official Claude pricing page for current plan details.

How to install

1. Start at claude.com/claude-for-microsoft-365 rather than searching the store for “Claude”.
2. Follow the link on that page to the separate listing called Claude for Outlook.
3. Open Outlook, add the listing, sign in and open a harmless test message.
4. Ask Claude to summarise the open message and confirm the reply remains an unsent draft.

Nuances

• Outlook is in beta. Do not use it for final client work, counterparty sends, litigation filings or audit-critical documents without human review.
• Claude never sends mail or invitations on its own. Every draft remains unsent for your review.
• The add-in is Exchange Online only. It is governed by Exchange add-in policies and AppsForOfficeEnabled, not by the Office Store toggle used for Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• The Office add-ins do not inherit an organisation's custom retention setting, and their activity is absent from Enterprise audit logs, the Compliance API and data exports.

If it will not work

• If the listing is missing, IT should deploy asset WA200010724 or use the verified Outlook manifest in the IT section.
• If sign-in or Graph access fails, ask a Global Administrator to confirm the one-time Outlook consent.
• If the add-in appears but its pane stays blank, ask IT to allow pivot.claude.ai.

What you need

• Use your eligible work Microsoft 365 account at m365copilot.com. See the official Microsoft plan page to check current licensing and capabilities.

How to install

1. Open m365copilot.com in a browser and sign in with your work account.
2. Read the in-product label: M365 Copilot (Premium) indicates the paid add-on; M365 Copilot (Basic) or Copilot Chat (Basic) indicates the basic work experience.
3. Upload a harmless test file and confirm the chat can use it.
4. Ask one question that requires the uploaded file and one that requires a web result.

Nuances

• Copilot Chat is included with eligible Microsoft 365 subscriptions, but it is web-grounded only. It cannot read your own mail, SharePoint or OneDrive content without the broader Microsoft 365 Copilot capability.
• Uploading or pasting a document works in the basic experience, so use that route when you need the chat to work with your own material.
• Do not use the Windows taskbar route for a commercial work account. Use m365copilot.com. IT can disable Copilot or web search at tenant level.

If it will not work

• If Copilot is missing, ask IT whether it is disabled under Integrated Apps for your tenant.
• If it has no web results, ask whether optional connected experiences or web search have been disabled.
• If it is still blocked, ask IT to test your account at m365copilot.com.

What you need

• Use a Wispr Flow account and sign in with Google, Apple, Microsoft, SSO, or email and password. Plans include Flow Basic, Flow Pro with a team variant, and Flow Enterprise. Check the official Wispr Flow pricing page for current plan details.

How to install

1. Go to wisprflow.ai/downloads and choose Mac with Apple Silicon, Mac with Intel, or Download for Windows.
2. On macOS, open the download, drag Wispr Flow into Applications and launch it from the menu bar. On Windows, run the installer and launch Wispr Flow from the Start menu; its icon appears in the system tray.
3. Click Sign in via browser, complete sign-in in the browser and return to the app. If the handoff times out, start it again.
4. Grant permissions. On macOS, click Allow on the microphone card and macOS dialog, then Allow on the accessibility card. On Windows, allow microphone access if prompted.
5. Finish the tutorial: test the microphone, press the keys you want for your shortcut, and choose your languages or keep auto-detect on. Setup is complete when the Flow Hub appears.

Nuances

• On macOS, System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and Accessibility must both allow Wispr Flow. Accessibility is what lets Flow insert speech into other apps.
• Screen Recording is needed only for Notetaker on macOS 13 or earlier, not for normal dictation.
• Supported devices run macOS 12 or later, or Windows 10 or 11 on x64. ARM Windows, Linux, iPad, virtual machines and remote desktop environments are not supported.
• By default, dictation data may be used to evaluate, train and improve models. Settings > Data & Privacy > Privacy Mode turns that off. Private Cloud Sync separately controls whether transcripts are stored server-side.
• Flow needs an internet connection and does not transcribe offline. All customer data is processed and stored in the United States, with GDPR covered through a DPA and EU Standard Contractual Clauses.

If it will not work

• If dictation records but no text appears, recover it with Ctrl+Cmd+V on Mac or Shift+Alt+Z on Windows. On macOS, toggle Wispr Flow off and on under System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility. Test in Notes to see whether the target app is blocking paste.
• If the shortcut is dead in Terminal, iTerm2, a password field or Slack on Mac, leave the password field, uncheck Terminal > Secure Keyboard Entry or quit the offending app. Hold-to-talk usually still works.
• If permissions stop working after an update, quit Flow from the menu bar, toggle each permission off and on, then reopen it.
• Flow does not work inside Citrix, RDP or VDI. Install it on the local machine, never inside the remote session.
• If it is still blocked, tell us before the session, not on the day.

What you need

• Use a Google, Figma or Microsoft account. There is no email and password option. Plans include Free, Starter, Professional, Team and Enterprise. Figma Weave credits are separate from Figma credits, so a paid Figma seat does not include Figma Weave. Check the official Figma Weave pricing page for current plan details.

How to install

1. Open weave.figma.com. The old weavy.ai address redirects there.
2. Click Start Now, or Sign In in the top navigation.
3. On app.weavy.ai/signin, complete Verify you are human. The sign-in buttons remain greyed out until it succeeds.
4. Choose Log in with Google, Log in with Figma or Log in with Microsoft.

Nuances

• The rebrand is still in progress. Marketing is at weave.figma.com, the application at app.weavy.ai and the help centre at help.weavy.ai, so expect to see both Weavy and Figma Weave.
• Credits gate every action. Different models use different amounts, video uses more than images, and the free tier cannot buy top-ups, so credits can run out during a session.
• For Verified models, the provider is contractually prohibited from training on your content. An Unverified model provider may have the right to train on it, so check the current model list.
• The vendor says it does not train on your images or prompts, but anonymised usage data is used for training and Unverified model providers may train on your content. There is no opt-out toggle, and the main Figma product's content-training toggle does not apply to Figma Weave.
• Commercial use is allowed on the free tier, but the vendor says most, not all, models are cleared for it. Check each model.
• The terms say content should not include personal data and that Figma Weave is not a storage or backup service. Download anything you want to keep.

If it will not work

• If the sign-in buttons stay greyed out, Verify you are human has not passed. A corporate VPN, shared egress address or browser that blocks third-party scripts can cause this quietly. Try another network or a clean browser profile.
• If your employer blocks Google, personal Microsoft accounts or third-party sign-in consent, there is no email and password fallback. Confirm in advance that at least one of the three sign-in routes works.
• If the help centre will not open, ask IT to test help.weavy.ai from the corporate network.
• If nothing generates, check whether the account has run out of credits. The free tier cannot buy more before the monthly reset.
• If it is still blocked, tell us before the session, not on the day.

What you need

• Use an existing Lovable workspace or arrange one through your organisation. Check the official Lovable pricing page for current plans and usage limits.

How to install

1. Open lovable.dev in a current browser.
2. Sign in and open the workspace approved by your organisation.
3. Open an existing project or create a harmless test project.
4. Enter a small prompt and confirm that the preview builds.

Nuances

• Build credits are pooled per workspace and prompts consume different amounts. Check the workspace allowance before starting a substantial build.
• Supabase is no longer required for setup; Lovable Cloud provides the built-in backend.
• Published apps are public on Free and Pro. Put nothing real, confidential or personal into a published app.
• Abandoned projects can be removed automatically, so keep working on or export anything you need to preserve where your plan permits it.

If it will not work

• Lovable publishes no firewall allowlist. If the site is blocked, IT should test access from the corporate network.
• If workspace access or build allowance is missing, contact the workspace owner rather than changing plans yourself.
• If the editor opens but the preview does not build, ask IT to test lovable.dev and the generated preview domain.