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Select text, AI understands context, gives you the answer.
Reading in a foreign language and hit an unfamiliar word? The usual routine — copy, switch apps, paste, wait — breaks your flow and often gives you an isolated definition that doesn't fit the sentence.
Select AI is not just another dictionary. It's an AI understanding layer that lives inside the webpage. Select any text, click the floating button, and get a context-aware explanation right where you are reading — no tab switching, no interruption.
No signup. No API key required. Install and go.
Select text on any webpage. Select AI analyzes surrounding context and tells you what it means — not just a translation, but an explanation that fits the context.
- Detects whether you selected a term, title, code snippet, or plain sentence
- Weighs context for more accurate results
- Streams the answer word by word in real time
Translate long articles without truncation. Original and translated text are shown side by side.
- Token-aware chunking handles long content
- Translation and explanation can use different AI models
- Output language is customizable
One-click AI dual subtitles for YouTube videos. Reuses the video's existing captions and overlays a bilingual translation synced to playback.
- No need to copy subtitles
- Syncs with playback progress
- Adjustable font size
- Smart segment merging reduces flicker
Right-click any image or take a screenshot to extract and explain text using AI Vision models.
- AI Vision mode: understands charts, UI screenshots, handwriting
- Screenshot mode: select any area of the screen
- Supports separate model configuration for image recognition
| 🧠 Thinking Mode | Deeper analysis when you need it |
| 🔊 Text-to-Speech | Read explanations aloud |
| ⌨️ Keyboard Shortcuts | Alt+E explain, Alt+T translate, Alt+S screenshot OCR |
| 🇯🇵 Japanese Kana Ruby | Auto furigana above kanji |
| 🔒 Privacy First | API key stays local; no tracking |
| 🌏 Language Learners | 💻 Developers reading English docs |
| 📚 Researchers & Academics | |
| 🇯🇵 Japanese Learners | 🎬 People watching foreign videos |
| 📰 News Readers in Other Languages | 📑 Professionals reading contracts & reports |
| 🧑🏫 Teachers & Translators | 🌍 Travelers planning trips abroad |
| 🎮 Gamers reading international communities | ✍️ Content creators researching global trends |
| Provider | Default Model | Format |
|---|---|---|
| Select AI Built-in (Default) | DeepSeek-V3.2 | OpenAI |
| DeepSeek | deepseek-v4-flash | OpenAI |
| OpenAI | gpt-5.4-mini | OpenAI |
| Anthropic | claude-haiku-4-5 | Anthropic |
| MiniMax | MiniMax-M3 | Anthropic |
| Gemini | gemini-3.5-flash | OpenAI |
| Zhipu AI | glm-4-flash | OpenAI |
| Kimi | kimi-k2.6 | OpenAI |
| Custom | User-defined | OpenAI / Anthropic |
| User Type | Daily Limit |
|---|---|
| Guest | 20 requests |
| Free User | 100 requests |
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
Alt + E |
Explain selected text |
Alt + T |
Translate selected text or full page |
Alt + S |
Screenshot OCR |
Esc |
Close explanation panel |
Custom shortcuts can be set at chrome://extensions/shortcuts.
| 💾 Local Storage | Your API key is stored locally in your browser |
| 🔒 No Data Collection | No user data is uploaded to any server |
| 🔗 Direct Provider Connection | Custom AI requests go straight to the provider, not through our servers |
| ⚔️ Minimal Permissions | Only requests necessary permissions for functionality |
Is Select AI free?
Yes. The extension is free to install and includes a built-in free AI tier with daily limits. You can also add your own API key for unlimited use.
Can I use it without an API key?
Yes. The built-in free tier works out of the box — no configuration needed.
How do I get an API key?
Register at your chosen provider's platform (e.g., OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepSeek) and create a key in the API console. Then paste it into the extension's API Settings.
Why is the result empty?
Common causes: invalid or expired API key, network issues, or selected text too short. Check your API Settings and click "Test Connection".
What do error codes mean?
- 401: Invalid API key
- 403: Insufficient permissions or model not enabled
- 429: Too many requests — retry later
- 500: AI provider server error
Which languages are supported?
All languages supported by the AI models — including English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, German, and many more.
Does it work on all websites?
Works on most websites. Excludes chrome:// system pages and some restricted domains.
What about image recognition?
Right-click any image or take a screenshot to extract and explain text using AI Vision models. You can configure a separate model specifically for image recognition, or use your main explanation model if it supports vision.
1. Download select-ai.zip from the latest release
2. Extract → Chrome → chrome://extensions/
3. Enable Developer mode → Load unpacked
4. Select text on any webpage → Click the floating AI button
Or install directly from the Chrome Web Store.
Built and maintained by EndlessGr1ef. If you run into bugs, have ideas, or just want to say hi, feel free to open an issue or reach out.
⭐ If you found it helpful, give us a star
Made with ❤️ to make foreign language reading effortless