A slow or unavailable AI service should leave you with a clear choice, not an assumption that the document has been processed. Keep the source available while you choose another path.
A service interruption is a reason to choose deliberately, not evidence that processing succeeded.
Inspect whether a result actually exists
Wait for the app’s request state rather than approving an empty or partial interpretation. A failed request is not the same as a successful preview that you later cancel. Review the displayed error and keep the draft instead of repeatedly saving duplicate captures.
Choose another supported path
On Mac, prepared local AI can be an explicit alternative when verified Lifetime and model setup are ready. On-device OCR plus rules or manual editing can also handle simpler work. Mobile does not bundle an Ollama runtime; do not expect the same local-model switch there.
Keep the processing choice visible
When an online request is unavailable, preserve the current source and read whether a usable result was returned. If not, decide whether the task is simple enough for manual entry or local OCR and rules. On a prepared Mac, verify that the installed model and local service are ready before choosing that alternative. On a phone, do not promise yourself a Mac-only model route that is not bundled there. After choosing another path, inspect its output independently instead of assuming it inherits validation from the failed attempt. The next useful action might be a reviewed manual reminder to revisit the source later, rather than another immediate request to an unavailable service.
Your little checklist.
Keep the source open while checking the request outcome.
Read whether the request failed or returned a usable preview.
Choose local rules or prepared Mac local AI if appropriate.
Review any alternative result before approving the entry.
A little reference.
Keep the context and your next action together.
| Choice | Use it for | Check before saving |
|---|---|---|
| Failed request | No successful interpretation | Inspect the error |
| Local rules | Simple offline extraction | Review recognized text |
| Mac local AI | Prepared model alternative | Needs prior setup |
Will an AI request failure consume a successful-result trial?
Failed or invalid requests refund the failed AI trial. A successful preview can count even when you later cancel it.
These guides explain product workflows. Review extracted names, dates and amounts. Features depend on your device, permissions and optional service setup.
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