First, install LLM using pip or Homebrew or pipx or uv: pip install llm / brew install llm / pipx install llm / uv tool install llm
If you have an OpenAI API key key you can run this:
# Paste your OpenAI API key into this
llm keys set openai
# Run a prompt (with the default gpt-4o-mini model)
llm "Ten fun names for a pet pelican"
# Extract text from an image
llm "extract text" -a scanned-document.jpg
# Use a system prompt against a file
cat myfile.py | llm -s "Explain this code"
Run prompts against Gemini or Anthropic with their respective plugins:
llm install llm-gemini
llm keys set gemini
# Paste Gemini API key here
llm -m gemini-2.0-flash 'Tell me fun facts about Mountain View'
llm install llm-anthropic
llm keys set anthropic
# Paste Anthropic API key here
llm -m claude-4-opus 'Impress me with wild facts about turnips'
You can also install a plugin to access models that can run on your local device. If you use Ollama:
# Install the plugin
llm install llm-ollama
# Download and run a prompt against the Orca Mini 7B model
ollama pull llama3.2:latest
llm -m llama3.2:latest 'What is the capital of France?'
To start an interactive chat with a model, use llm chat:
llm chat -m gpt-4.1
Chatting with gpt-4.1
Type 'exit' or 'quit' to exit
Type '!multi' to enter multiple lines, then '!end' to finish
Type '!edit' to open your default editor and modify the prompt.
Type '!fragment <my_fragment> [<another_fragment> ...]' to insert one or more fragments
> Tell me a joke about a pelican
Why don't pelicans like to tip waiters?
Because they always have a big bill!
Last modified 21 June 2026