Building & Selling AI

Deploy AI on NAS

Last updated 2026-09-22

What's new

2026-09-22

Codex (a tool by OpenAI that helps you do tasks with AI, like writing, designing, or coding) can be used to build skills, create branded deliverables, and even automate tasks, all without needing a technical background.
The Codex desktop app (a program you download to use Codex easily) is recommended for a consistent experience, and it uses the same subscription as ChatGPT (a popular AI chatbot), so you won't need a new account.
Codex is more powerful than Work (a tool for non-technical knowledge work) and can do everything Work can do, plus more, making it a better investment for learning and using in the long run.
The course will teach you how to use Codex effectively with natural language (regular English, not code) and explain core concepts simply, helping you become a pro AI builder.

2026-09-13

Switching between AI tools like ChatGPT (a popular AI chatbot from OpenAI) and Claude (a similar chatbot from Anthropic) is now easier using a shared folder on your computer that both can access.
Both ChatGPT and Claude recently released new models (GPT-4o and Claude Fable 5.1) with different strengths, but setting up a flexible system lets you switch between them as needed.
Desktop agents like ChatBT Work and Cloud Co-Work (software that helps manage AI tasks) allow you to move tasks between AI tools without losing custom settings or context.
Instead of copying projects (collections of instructions and files) between AI tools, base them on a shared folder on your computer for easier switching and collaboration.

2026-09-10

**Skills** (AI tools that remember how you do tasks) let you teach AI once, then reuse that knowledge, like telling it to "write that follow-up email" and it does it your way.
Skills can move between AI providers (like Claude or Chat GPT), making it easy to switch and keep your work.
Unlike **projects** (AI workspaces with folders and files), skills come to you in any chat, saving AI's "brain space" for better results.
Use **prompts** (one-time requests) for quick tasks, like summarizing an article, but skills help AI work on its own for longer tasks.

2026-08-25

ChatGPT (a popular AI chatbot by OpenAI) and Claude (a similar AI by Anthropic) can now run tasks while your computer is off, using their company's servers (called "the cloud") instead of your own computer.
You can set up these tasks, like getting a weekly email summary, to run automatically at specific times, even if your computer is closed or you're away from it.
However, if the task needs to access files or apps on your computer, like updating a spreadsheet or using a specific program, it should run locally (on your computer) instead of in the cloud.
This new feature was introduced in July, but it's not widely known, so it's a good idea to check if it could make your AI tasks more convenient.

2026-08-07

To stand out in AI, focus on showing real results (like time saved or leads gained) rather than just showcasing what you've built, as this helps prove your skills to potential clients or employers.
Don't rely too heavily on specific tools (like n8n or Cloud Code, which are platforms for automating tasks), as new ones will always emerge; instead, focus on learning valuable skills like problem-solving and clear communication.
Being "AI native" means automatically considering if AI can help with tasks, even if it only handles part of the job, as this mindset will save you time and keep you ahead of those who don't use AI at all.
The real value isn't in the AI itself (which everyone has equal access to), but in the unique systems, expertise, and experience you bring to using it, such as knowing what mistakes to avoid.

2026-08-04

AI can do more than just answer questions; it can act as an "agent" (a software helper that works for you) to automate tasks and save time, but most people aren't using it this way yet.
To turn AI into an agent, you need a "harness" (a regular software that connects the AI to tools and lets it interact with the world), like Claude Code or Codex.
Agents work in a loop: they watch their environment, think, and act, repeating this until they achieve the goal you set, but they need proper "onboarding" (teaching them about your business and how you work) to be effective.
Start by giving your AI agent context through lightweight "markdown files" (simple text files with easy-to-read formatting), beginning with an "about.md" file that summarizes who you are and what you do.

2026-07-28

Claude (an AI assistant) can autonomously organize files on your computer, renaming and summarizing them without your direct input, using its "co-work" feature (a mode where it operates more independently).
Most people use Claude in "chat" mode (like a conversation), but the "co-work" mode (a separate feature) is more powerful for handling complex tasks with many files or steps.
Downloading the Cloud Desktop app (software for your computer) lets Claude access your files directly, maintaining its intelligence for longer tasks, unlike the browser version where you must manually copy and paste files.
In the desktop app, create folders tied to specific tasks instead of using "projects" (pre-set workspaces in the browser version), allowing Claude to work more efficiently on your files.

2026-07-19

AI tools can now help one person do the work that used to take many, like writing code 8 to 80 times faster (even if the code is not perfect).
The key to this boost isn't the AI itself (like Claude, a popular AI tool), but how you organize and use it, like treating it as a workforce.
Companies using AI this way are growing super fast, like Emergence, which hit $15 million in sales with just 15 people.
These companies run differently, using AI for tasks like sales and support, and hiring engineers to manage the AI's work.

2026-07-13

Claude Code (a tool for building AI-powered automations) lets you work with local files and online services like Gmail, Slack, or a CRM (customer relationship management system), making it more powerful than Claude Chat (a simple AI chatbot).
Claude Code uses the same AI models (like Opus, Sonnet, or Haiku) as Claude Chat, but adds extra features for working with files and online services.
Claude Code is like an AI harness (a tool that helps you use AI models), which sits between the AI model (the engine) and you (the driver), helping you build automations and agents (AI systems that can do tasks for you).
The instructor, Nate, uses Claude Code to build and manage multiple businesses, showing how one person can do the work of a team with AI.

2026-07-10

Claude Video (a free tool) lets Claude (an AI assistant) analyze videos, pulling key frames and generating transcripts, which is useful for understanding video content beyond just text.
Notebook LM-PI (another free tool) integrates Notebook LM (a research and synthesis tool) into Claude, allowing for deeper research and content creation like slide decks or infographics.

2026-07-04

Fable 5 (a powerful AI model) can clone existing software, like Whisper Flow (a speech-to-text service), creating a local version that runs on your own computer.
To maximize Fable 5's potential, use Opus 4.8 (another AI model) to plan the project first, then hand it off to Fable 5 for execution.
Fable 5 can also analyze your usage of Claw Code (a software tool) to suggest improvements, like creating new skills or automations.
For best results, use Fable 5 for specific, well-planned tasks rather than open-ended dynamic workflows to avoid exceeding usage limits.

Key points

What it is

Deploying AI on a NAS (network-attached storage device) means running AI models directly on your local storage device instead of using cloud services.
This setup allows AI to access and process your business data locally, keeping sensitive information secure and avoiding external data transfers.
It solves key problems in moving AI from demo to production, including customization, evaluation, deployment, and real-time monitoring.

How to use it

Install OpenClaw (an open-source tool) on your NAS to turn it into a private AI cloud, using a Docker container (a lightweight, self-contained software package).
Connect your preferred AI model by either using an OpenAI API key (a secret code to access OpenAI's servers) for cloud-based AI or running a local model through Ollama (a tool for running AI models on your own hardware) for complete privacy.

Watch out for

Ignoring update headaches; use Docker containers to isolate software and prevent updates from breaking your setup.
Underestimating model choice; going fully local keeps data private but requires more technical tweaking.

Tools named

OpenClaw (open-source tool for private AI cloud), Ollama (tool for running AI models on your own hardware), Hermes Agent (alternative platform for running AI agents)

Lesson 1: What is Deploy AI on NAS and why it matters

Deploy AI on NAS means running artificial intelligence models directly on a Network Attached Storage device (a dedicated file-storage box on your local network) rather than streaming data to the cloud. This setup matters because the biggest bottleneck in AI development isn't lack of tools—it's connecting the people who can use AI to the workflows that actually need it. Most teams get stuck because a demo works on a laptop but fails in production, and bridging that gap takes 3 to 9 months.

When you deploy on a NAS, your AI has full context about your business, offers, and customer profiles in one central place, and it can read and write files locally without sending sensitive data externally. This solves the four problems of moving an AI agent from demo to production: customization (connecting to real data with security and compliance), evaluation (measuring quality before users see it), deployment (scalable infrastructure), and observability (monitoring in real time). Buying an AI tool is like buying a treadmill and calling yourself an athlete—it doesn't make you fit. But thinking in terms of infrastructure instead of tools completely changes your approach. Most companies haven't deployed AI everywhere not because they lack the right people, but because nobody is building the bridge from tool users to workflows that need automation.

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Lesson 2: How to use Deploy AI on NAS: step-by-step

To deploy AI on a NAS (network-attached storage device), you install OpenClaw, an open-source tool that turns your NAS into a private AI cloud. Start by pulling down the OpenClaw Docker container (a lightweight, self-contained software package) onto your NAS. The system handles this in the background, and when finished, you'll see the OpenClaw dashboard in your browser.

Next, connect your preferred AI model. If you have an OpenAI API key (a secret code to access OpenAI's servers), you can drop it into the dashboard for cloud-based AI. For complete privacy, run a model locally through Ollama (a tool for running AI models on your own hardware) right on the NAS. This keeps everything fully local and private, meaning your data never leaves your device.

The overall process is build the infrastructure on your NAS, own the hardware and data, and use OpenClaw as your private cloud. You own the entire stack, so there are no external dependencies. This approach gives you complete control over your AI operations, whether you use remote models or local ones. The key is to start with the Docker setup, then choose your AI model connection. Your NAS becomes a dedicated AI server you control.

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Lesson 3: Best practices and pitfalls

Deploying AI on a NAS (network-attached storage box in your home) like the Ugreen NAS Sync DXP4800 Pro can free you from cloud subscriptions, but beginners trip on a few common pitfalls. A major mistake is ignoring update headaches; one user noted that "having to fix your OpenClaw every time you update it has become a major pain" (2026-05-09). To avoid this, use Docker containers to isolate the software so updates don't break your setup. Another pitfall is underestimating model choice. When you connect your AI model, you have two options: drop in an OpenAI API key (a code that lets you pay to use OpenAI's cloud models) or run a local model through Ollama (a tool to run AI on your own hardware) directly on the NAS (2026-06-26). Going fully local keeps data private but requires more technical tweaking.

Best practices start with picking the right tool. OpenClaw is a popular platform for running AI agents (automated AI workers) on your NAS, but consider alternatives like Hermes Agent if you want a "24/7 AI employee" that does tasks without constant fixes (2026-05-09). Focus on practical use cases first. Instead of overcomplicating things, start with "smart file search" to ask your NAS—in plain language—to find documents you worked on last month (2026-06-26). Avoid the trap of using AI for tasks you don't already understand manually; one expert advised, "don't use AI to do something that you don't know how to do already" (2026-06-11). Finally, think in terms of infrastructure, not just tools. This mindset shift ensures you build a stable, ownable setup rather than chasing every new cloud service (2026-05-26).

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