Ollama's New Terminal Tool Lets You Ask AI Yes/No Questions

Ollama, a popular tool for running AI models locally, just updated its software to version 0.40.4. The big new feature? You can now use decision models right from your terminal. That means instead of switching to a chat app or writing code, you can type a command like `ollama run nimble --ask "Is a refund being requested?" < ticket.txt` and get an instant answer. This is great for developers who live in the terminal and want quick, AI-powered decisions without leaving their workflow.

Decision models are AI that can answer yes/no questions, sort text into categories, or score something based on rules. For example, you could use it to automatically flag customer support tickets that need a refund, or classify emails as urgent or not. This kind of automation can save hours of manual work, especially for repetitive tasks. And because it runs locally, you don't need an internet connection or worry about sending sensitive data to the cloud.

But there's a catch: this is a command-line tool, so it's not for everyone. You need to be comfortable typing commands and working with files. Also, the models themselves might not be perfect—they can make mistakes, so you should double-check important decisions. Still, for tech-savvy users, this update makes AI more accessible and integrated into daily tasks.

Overall, Ollama's update is a step toward making AI a seamless part of your computer's toolkit, not just a separate app. If you're a developer or power user, it could streamline your work. If you're not, it's a sign of how AI is becoming more embedded in the tools we use every day.