Kai is here, and it’s transforming RAD Studio into an agentic development environment, pairing best-in-class code suggestions with an AI agent that can generate, build, fix, and evolve your applications.
Here are the answers to 14 questions about Kai you need to know.
Table of Contents
1. What is Kai?
Kai is Embarcadero’s recently-released agentic AI platform for Delphi, C++Builder, and RAD Studio.
2. What does Kai bring to my development workflow?
Kai brings automation into your development workflow. More than a coding assistant, Kai acts as a collaborator to generate code and UIs, compile projects, resolve errors, and execute tasks inside and outside your IDE using MCP-powered workflows.
From accelerating new applications to modernizing and refactoring existing codebases, Kai serves as an agentic companion, assisting with complex work and adapting to your process.
Built on a flexible BYOK model, Kai supports leading LLMs including GitHub Copilot, OpenAI, Claude, Gemini, and local models, giving developers control over performance, cost, and data privacy.
3. What are the benefits of using Kai?
Kai is packed with agentic AI capabilities that make it a super coding assistant with huge benefits. Here are the most important:
Stay in the flow : Work entirely within RAD Studio—turn prompts into working code, builds, and fixes without disrupting your momentum.
Smarter coding, built in : Boost productivity with AI-powered inline autocomplete and rich code suggestions that feel like a natural extension of your editor.
Generate UIs, working prototypes and apps : Describe your idea and let Kai instantly create ready-to-use platform-native interfaces, interactive prototypes, and functioning applications.
Modernize your code : If you have an existing application, Kai can help you modernize the code and UI and help refactoring existing codebases, leveraging new language and framework features.
Model flexibility without lock-in : Use the best model for every task—Claude, GPT-5, Gemini, and more—for the perfect balance of speed, cost, and capability.
Enterprise-ready by design: No proxy layer via Embarcadero servers. No mandatory cloud dependency . Your code stays under your control, with local storage and direct model communication.
Local Models for Maximum Protection : When privacy matters most, run Kai fully offline with local LLMs for maximum IP protection and compliance.
4. What Else Can I Do With Kai?
Set Up Agentic Workflows, Powered by MCP : Orchestrate agentic workflows that handle files, resolve build errors, and manage version control—enabling intelligent, self-directed development inside the IDE. Kai includes an MCP server interface where you can integrate other MCP tools.
Perform File System Operations : The MCP server understands the file system, allowing developers to read, write, and manage project files without extra configuration.
Automated Compile–Fix Workflow : Kai provides an MCP interface for RAD Studio in the IDE, enabling the AI engine to compile an application, read error messages, attempt fixes, and recompile automatically.
5. What Are Kai’s Core UI Features?
Ghost Text : Automatic, context-aware suggestions appear directly in the editor as faint, translucent text, providing the fastest way to complete your code:
- Automatic appearance after a short pause
- Press Tab to accept, Esc to dismiss
- Non-intrusive inline display
CodeInsight Completions : Typing suggestions integrated into the RAD Studio CodeInsight completion window:
- Appears as the top item in the completion list
- Press Ctrl+Space to open, Enter to accept
- Familiar RAD Studio UI
Panel Completions : Dedicated panel view for generating and comparing multiple suggestions.
- See multiple alternatives at once
- Manual refresh button to generate suggestions
- Copy or insert buttons for each option
Agent Chat : The Kai Agent is a fully integrated IDE assistant for coding tasks, questions, and project analysis:
- Open via View -> Tool Windows -> Kai Agent
- Chat with AI to compile, debug, implement features
- Reference project files with @ symbol
- Choose from multiple AI models per chat
- Works with cloud or local models
6. How Can I Try KAI?
If you have a named user (non ELC) license for RAD Studio 12 or 13, Download Kai through GetIt or the Customer Portal and redeem your Kai Trial license on the Redemption Page
If you have a Network or Concurrent license with Active Maintenance, Contact Sales to get your Kai Trial license.
If you are a new customer or a customer without a recent license, install and try the latest RAD Studio edition. Your RAD Studio Trial will include a Kai Trial.
7. How Can I Buy KAI?
If you have a RAD Studio, Delphi or C++Builder license and are on Support & Maintenance, Contact Sales and request a new Kai license.
If you have a RAD Studio, Delphi or C++Builder license that has expired Support & Maintenance, Contact Sales to activate your subscription and acquire your Kai license.
If you don’t have a RAD Studio, Delphi, or C++Builder license, you can buy a Kai subscription along with a new license by selecting the option in the Web Store or by contacting Sales when purchasing a new license.
8. How do I enable Kai?
After downloading and installing Kai, you can configure it from the Kai page in the IDE’s Tools Options dialog box. This page lets you enable and configure the available backend LLMs you want to use. Separate settings are provided for the agentic chat features and for AI-powered code completions.
9. Does any of my code or data leave my machine?
This fully depends on the backend LLM you select. In the case of Ollama and other local engines, no data leaves your computer. In case you select OpenAI, Gemini, or Claude, the data you specifically select is sent to a server, subject to the specific AI provider’s license agreement, terms of use, and privacy and IP protection offered. The data is not sent to an Embarcadero backend and we do not receive or process your data in any way, including to train any model.
10. Is Kai a perpetual or subscription license?
Kai is a subscription license. Note that the base product (RAD Studio, Delphi, or C++Builder) is available as a perpetual license.
11. What happens to Kai if my base product support or maintenance lapses?
If your base product support or maintenance expires, Kai will no longer function. You would need to renew your base product support before Kai can be used again.
12. Can I purchase Kai independently, without a RAD Studio, Delphi or C++Builder license?
No. Kai is an add-on and requires an active license for RAD Studio, Delphi, or C++Builder to operate.
13. Is there a current special offer on Kai I can benefit from to get Kai at a discount?
Yes, details are provided in this promo offer below. Act now, there are just days left!
Limited-Time Offer: Add Kai to New Licenses, Get up to 40% OFF on Total Purchase
For a limited time, the current RAD Studio 13.1 promotion offers 20% off Professional, 25% off Enterprise, and 30% off Architect editions. When eligible customers add Kai to their new license purchase, they can unlock up to an additional 10% bundle discount on the overall order, for total savings of up to 40%.
This is not just a discount. It is a practical opportunity to upgrade your development environment and add agentic AI assistance at the same time. By bundling Kai with your RAD Studio, Delphi, or C++Builder purchase, you get the latest development tooling plus AI assistance designed specifically for the IDE you already know.
The offer is available until June 30, 2026, and applies to eligible purchases of RAD Studio 13.1 Florence, Delphi 13.1 Florence, and C++Builder 13.1 Florence. It does not apply to renewals, academic licenses, or term-based licenses, and additional restrictions may apply.
Add Kai to your order, unlock extra bundle savings, and bring agentic AI directly into your RAD Studio workflow.
Kai supports Delphi, C++Builder and RAD Studio 12x and 13.x. If you are on older versions of Delphi, C++Builder or RAD Studio, this is a great opportunity to maximize the value of upgrading to 13.1.
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14. Where can I learn more about Kai?
Kai Page on the Embarcadero Website
AI FAQs Page
Blog: An Update On Kai and Claude AI Integration
Blog: Vibe Coding with Kai: Building a Real VCL Windows App from a Simple Prompt
Video: Introducing Kai
Video: A New RAD Studio Workflow is Coming
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Awesome breakdown! Kai’s autonomous compile-fix loop is a perfect real-world example of agentic AI moving from theory into developer workflows.