AI Shell is a CLI tool that brings the power of artificial intelligence directly to your command line! Designed to help you get command assistance from various AI assistants, AI Shell is a versatile tool to help you become more productive in the command line. We call these various AI assistant providers agents. You can use agents to interact with different generative AI models or other AI/ML/assistant providers in a conversational manner.
Publisher’s description
What is AI Shell?
AI Shell by Microsoft Corporation is open-source Windows software in the ai assistants & llms category. It is written in C#.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides Portable installers for 64-bit, ARM64 and 32-bit Windows. It runs without installation (portable).
Updates and version history
The current version is 1.0.0-preview.8, released on October 8, 2025. The version history goes back to November 15, 2024: 8 releases, all linked to the official files. The last update is more than a year old. The source repository has been archived, so further updates are unlikely.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (PowerShell/AIShell) has 514 stars. Similar programs include Claude Code, Codex CLI and ChatGPT.
Project description on GitHub: “An interactive shell to work with AI-powered assistance providers”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Native ARM64 build for Windows on Arm
- Portable: runs without installation
Cons
- No update for more than a year
- Source repository archived
In short: AI Shell is an open-source ai assistants & llm tool for 64-bit, ARM64 and 32-bit PCs. Updates have slowed down.
Is AI Shell safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
83E80F047A908E2C19378DDC91B125687271C0F05DBE313DDCCC48D85A07CA15· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 8 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0.0-preview.8Latest | October 8, 2025 | — | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP32-bit ZIP |
| 1.0.0-preview.7 | September 5, 2025 | — | 64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP32-bit ZIP |
| 1.0.0-preview.6 | July 24, 2025 | — | 32-bit ZIP64-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP |
| 1.0.0-preview.5 | June 13, 2025 | — | 32-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 1.0.0-preview.4 | May 15, 2025 | — | ARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP32-bit ZIP |
| 1.0.0-preview.3 | March 12, 2025 | — | 32-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 1.0.0-preview.2 | February 27, 2025 | — | 32-bit ZIPARM64 ZIP64-bit ZIP |
| 1.0.0-preview.1 | November 15, 2024 | — | ARM64 ZIP32-bit ZIP64-bit ZIP |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id Microsoft.AIShell -eProgram files (.exe): aish.exe
Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Microsoft Corporation
- Category
- AI assistants & LLMs
- Licence
- MIT
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/PowerShell/AIShell
- Written in
- C#
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10
- Architecture
- 64-bit, ARM64, 32-bit
- Installer
- Portable
- Version
- 1.0.0-preview.8
- Released
- October 8, 2025
- Added to the catalogue
- December 27, 2024
- Versions listed
- 8
- GitHub stars
- 514
- GitHub forks
- 76
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- Microsoft.AIShell
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to AI Shell
See all ›-
Claude Code2.1.302Unleash Claude’s raw power directly in your terminal. Search million-line codebases instantly. Turn hours-long workflows into a single command. Your tools. Your workflow. Your codebase, evolving at thought speed.Proprietary67.1K ↓ -
Codex CLI0.161.0Codex CLI is an open‑source local coding agent that runs in your terminal, letting you write, edit, and understand code without leaving the command line.Open source16.6K ↓ -
Open source17.1K ↓ -
Open source8.7K ↓ -
Open source3.3K ↓ -
LobeHub2.2.20An open-source, modern-design AI chat framework. Supports Multi AI Providers (OpenAI / Claude 4 / Gemini / Ollama / DeepSeek / Qwen), Knowledge Base (file upload / knowledge management / RAG), Multi-Modals (Plugins/Artifacts) and Thinking.Open source150 ↓ -
oh-my-pi18.12.6⌥ AI Coding agent for the terminal — hash-anchored edits, optimized tool harness, LSP, Python, browser, subagents, and moreOpen source654 ↓ -
Open source4.8K ↓
Frequently asked questions
Is AI Shell free?
Yes. AI Shell is open-source software under the MIT licence.
Is AI Shell safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install AI Shell with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Does AI Shell run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
Yes, there is a native ARM64 installer.
Where can I download an older version of AI Shell?
The versions page lists all 8 versions with links to their official installer files, back to November 15, 2024.
Can I use AI Shell without administrator rights?
Yes, it is portable: unpack and run it.
What are alternatives to AI Shell?
Claude Code, Codex CLI, ChatGPT, GPT4All and Jan. The alternatives page compares them.
