Deta Surf

Deta Surf is an intelligent notebook for the internet that combines browsing, notes, and AI-assisted research in one local-first workspace.

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Overview

Deta Surf is an intelligent notebook for the internet. It combines web browsing, note-taking, and AI-assisted thinking so you can work with pages, PDFs, videos, images, and other files in one place instead of switching between separate apps.

The product is built around a local-first and open approach: your data is stored on your device, the core source code is open on GitHub, and you can choose how AI is used by connecting Deta-hosted models, your own API key, or local language models.

Features

Multimedia notebooks

Capture websites, images, files, notes, and other material in notebooks built around the internet as a working space.

Source-linked answers

Ask questions over saved content and web pages, with citations that link back to the source material.

Local-first storage

Keep data on your device and manage it locally, with import and export support mentioned in the homepage copy.

Model choice

Use Surf with Deta-hosted models, your own API key, or local language models, depending on how you want to run it.

Workspace controls

Add sketch-like personalization, dark mode, and vertical tabs to shape the workspace and keep navigation organized.

Visual creation tools

Create interactive graphs and applets without writing code, and use Surflets for small custom apps that explain ideas.

Use cases

Research and reading
Collect articles, PDFs, images, and notes into one notebook when you want the web and your own material in the same place for ongoing research.
Media and document digestion
Work through long videos, dense documents, foreign-language material, or scientific diagrams by asking questions and pulling out summaries or deeper explanations.
Thinking while browsing
Draft notes and structured thinking around what you are browsing so you can keep writing without switching between apps or tabs.
Interactive explanations
Create small visual outputs, including graphs and applets, when you need to explain an idea without writing code.
Personal knowledge base
Use a local-first workspace when you want your notes and resources stored on your own device and managed by you.

Pros and Cons

Pros

Combines web content, files, and notes in a single notebook-style workspace.
Provides citations that link answers back to source material.
Stores data locally on the device and exposes the data folder for direct user control.
Supports multiple AI back ends, including Deta-hosted, user-provided, and local models.
Runs across Mac, Windows, and Linux through Electron.

Cons

The product is in beta, so some features shown in earlier demos and alpha versions are still missing or being rebuilt.
The pricing page is unavailable in the provided sources, so there is no confirmed pricing information here.
Some smart features may send the content currently in context to Deta-hosted LLMs unless you choose your own key or a local model.

FAQ

What does beta mean for Surf right now?

Surf is currently in beta. The team says the product has its core foundation in place, but some features from earlier demos and the alpha are still being rebuilt or reintroduced.

How is my data kept secure?

Surf is local-first. Notes, notebooks, and resources are stored on your device, and the team says you can open the data folder yourself to move or delete files. For smart features, content in context may be sent to Deta-hosted LLMs, or you can use your own API key or a local language model.

Is Surf a browser or an AI browser?

Surf is presented as an intelligent notebook rather than a conventional browser. It uses the web as material for thinking and creating, and the team explicitly says it does not treat AI chat or automated browsing as the end goal.

What platform does Surf use?

Surf uses Electron so it can run across Mac, Windows, and Linux. The FAQ frames Electron as a practical choice for an app that needs browser capabilities.

What does Surf cost?

The sources do not list pricing, and the pricing page currently returns a page-not-found message. No plan details are available from the provided material.

Quick Facts

Category: AI notebook
Platform: Mac, Windows, Linux
Data storage: Local on device
AI options: Deta-hosted, own API key, or local models
Source domain: deta.surf
Pricing: Not available in provided sources