Ubik screenshot

What is Ubik?

Ubik is a research workspace designed for institutional researchers who need to analyse and interact with local files on their computer. It combines the document analysis capabilities similar to NotebookLM with editor-like functionality reminiscent of Cursor, allowing you to work with your own files directly without uploading them to external servers. The tool is built for researchers across multiple disciplines who want to ask questions about documents, extract insights, and work with their research materials in a single environment. Rather than relying on cloud storage or external APIs, Ubik processes your files locally, which appeals to researchers working with sensitive or proprietary information.

Key Features

Local file analysis

interact with and analyse documents stored on your computer without uploading to cloud services

Document chat interface

ask questions about your files and receive contextual answers similar to NotebookLM

Code editor integration

built-in editor with capabilities similar to Cursor for working alongside your documents

Multi-document research

work with multiple files simultaneously within a single research workspace

Institutional focus

designed for team-based research environments with institutional users in mind

Pros & Cons

Advantages

  • Privacy by design; files remain on your local machine rather than being sent to external servers
  • Direct access to your research materials without managing uploads or cloud synchronisation
  • Combines document analysis with editor functionality, reducing the need to switch between tools
  • Suitable for researchers handling confidential, proprietary, or sensitive materials

Limitations

  • Requires installation and local resources; not accessible from any device without setup
  • Limited information available about collaboration features for team-based research work
  • Processing speed depends on your local hardware rather than cloud infrastructure

Use Cases

Academic researchers analysing primary sources and research papers within a single workspace

Legal professionals reviewing confidential documents and contracts without external uploads

Corporate researchers working with proprietary data and internal reports

Interdisciplinary teams conducting research across multiple document types and formats

Researchers managing sensitive information who require local processing and data control