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The ai update command updates your AI Runner installation to the latest version from the configured GitHub repository.

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Syntax

ai update

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What Gets Updated

When you run ai update, the following are updated:
1

Fetch Latest Version

Pulls the latest code from the configured GitHub repository (default: andisearch/airun)
2

Update Scripts

Installs updated scripts to /usr/local/bin:
  • ai / airun - main command
  • ai-sessions - session listing
  • ai-status - configuration status
  • Legacy claude-* commands for backward compatibility
3

Update Libraries

Updates shared libraries in /usr/local/share/ai-runner/:
  • lib/ - core utilities and loaders
  • providers/ - provider implementations
  • tools/ - tool integrations
4

Update Configuration

Updates configuration files in ~/.ai-runner/:
  • models.sh - default model IDs (with prompt before overwriting)
  • banner.sh - banner configuration
5

Preserve Secrets

Never touches your API keys and credentials:
  • ~/.ai-runner/secrets.sh - preserved unchanged
  • ~/.ai-runner/defaults.sh - preserved unchanged

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Version Checking

AI Runner automatically checks for updates:
  • Frequency: Once every 24 hours (non-blocking, cache-only)
  • Where: Interactive mode startup and ai-status command
  • Notification: Shows a notice when a new version is available
$ ai

  ╔═══════════════════════════════════════╗
  ║         🎯 Andi AI Runner 🎯          ║
  ╚═══════════════════════════════════════╝

⚠️  Update available: 1.0.1 (current: 1.0.0)
    Run: ai update

Claude Code + AWS Bedrock mode activated
...

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Disable Update Checks

To disable automatic update checking: 
export AI_NO_UPDATE_CHECK=1
Add to your shell profile (~/.bashrc, ~/.zshrc) to make permanent.

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Manual Update

You can also update manually: 
cd ~/path/to/airun
git pull
./setup.sh
This is equivalent to running ai update.

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What’s Preserved

The update process never modifies:
  • API keys and credentials in ~/.ai-runner/secrets.sh
  • Saved defaults in ~/.ai-runner/defaults.sh
  • Session data in ~/.ai-runner/sessions/
  • Claude configuration in ~/.claude/

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Model Configuration Updates

When model defaults change between versions, you’ll be prompted: 
$ ai update

Model configuration has been updated.
  Changes include updated default model versions.
  Note: You have model overrides in secrets.sh.
  Update to latest model defaults? [Y/n]:
  • Choose Y to update to new model defaults
  • Choose n to keep your current model configuration
Your model overrides in secrets.sh are always preserved.

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Update Source

By default, ai update pulls from: 
https://github.com/andisearch/airun
If you installed from a fork or custom source, the update command uses your configured git remote. Check your source: 
cat /usr/local/share/ai-runner/.source-metadata
Update source: 
cd ~/path/to/airun
git remote set-url origin https://github.com/yourusername/airun.git
git pull
./setup.sh

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Version History

View release notes and version history:

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Check Current Version

ai --version
Or: 
cat /usr/local/share/ai-runner/VERSION

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Rollback to Previous Version

If an update causes issues: 
cd ~/path/to/airun
git log --oneline -10              # Find previous version commit
git checkout <commit-hash>         # Rollback to specific version
./setup.sh                         # Reinstall

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Update Behavior

The ai update command requires sudo access if /usr/local/bin is not writable by your user. You’ll be prompted for your password during the update.
Active sessions are not affected by updates. You can continue working in open ai sessions while updating.

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Troubleshooting Updates

The update process needs to write to /usr/local/bin. Run with sudo or ensure the directory is writable:
sudo ai update
Or make the directory writable:
sudo chown -R $USER /usr/local/bin /usr/local/share/ai-runner
ai update
AI Runner needs git to pull updates. Install git:
# macOS
brew install git

# Ubuntu/Debian
sudo apt install git
Verify you’re on the latest version:
ai --version
Check if git pulled successfully:
cd ~/path/to/airun
git log -1
Force reinstall:
cd ~/path/to/airun
git pull --force
./setup.sh

ai --version

Show current version

ai-status

Check configuration (includes update status)