Rename Files With AI: Just Tell It What You Want

What if you could just tell your computer "rename these photos by the date they were taken" and have it done automatically?

That is no longer wishful thinking.

The Problem With the Traditional Approach

In our previous posts we covered 16 renaming rules -- plenty of power for almost any task. But if you are new to the tool, figuring out which rule to pick and how to configure it still involves a learning curve.

Say you want to rename photos by their capture date. You would need to:

1. Know that a "Metadata Rule" exists
2. Know to use the ${photo.dateTime} variable
3. Know how to set the date format
4. Know how to pair it with a sequence number

For a first-time user, this process could easily mean digging through docs, trial and error, and repeated tweaking.

AI Renaming: Just Say the Word

Renamio's AI features let you describe what you want in plain language, and the AI handles the rest.

Option 1: Natural Language Description

Just tell the AI in everyday words what you are after:

"Rename all photos by the date they were taken, with a three-digit sequence number"

The AI analyzes your request, picks the right combination of rules, generates the configuration, and shows you a preview.

You can refine it through conversation:

"Start the sequence at 001, and use today's date instead of the capture date"

The AI adjusts the plan, previews again, and keeps iterating until you are happy.

Option 2: Example-Driven Renaming

If you cannot quite articulate what you want, just show the AI a few examples:

Give it two to five before-and-after pairs, and the AI figures out the pattern and applies it to every file.

This is especially handy for those moments when you know exactly what the result should look like but have no idea which rules or settings would get you there.

Option 3: AI Code Generation

For more complex scenarios -- reading file contents, calling external APIs, and so on -- you can combine the JS Script Rule with AI code generation.

Describe your needs and the AI generates the JavaScript for you:

function main(file_name, file_path, file_index) {
  // AI-generated code
  // Derive the new filename from file content or other logic
  return new_name;
}

You can also ask the AI to tweak existing code -- no need to write it yourself.

AI Rule Assistant: The Smarter Way

Beyond directly generating new filenames, Renamio has a more advanced AI feature -- the AI Rule Assistant.

Instead of having the AI rename files directly, this approach has the AI understand your intent and compose the right set of rules for you.

Why design it this way?

• Having the AI rename files directly means an API call for every file -- slow and expensive
• Having the AI assemble rules means one API call, and then the rules run locally -- fast and precise
• The resulting rules can be saved to your favorites for reuse next time

How it works:

1. You describe what you want: "Convert Chinese characters in filenames to Pinyin, and add a date prefix"
2. The AI breaks it down and selects a Transform Rule plus a Date Rule
3. The AI configures each rule's parameters
4. The AI simulates the pipeline and previews the result
5. Once you confirm, the rules are applied to all files

Multi-turn conversation supported:

If the AI's first attempt is not quite right, keep the conversation going:

"Use underscores between Pinyin syllables, not spaces" "Change the date format to YYYYMMDD, no dashes"

The AI adjusts step by step until everything looks right.

Under the Hood

Renamio's AI features are built on the MCP (Model Context Protocol). The AI Agent can call the following tools:

• list-providers: Browse all available renaming rules
• get-provider: Get the detailed configuration options for a specific rule
• simulate-transform: Run a single rule and preview the outcome
• simulate-pipeline: Run a combination of rules and preview the full result

This means the AI is not guessing -- it is making decisions based on a genuine understanding of the rule system.

AI Service Configuration

Renamio supports three AI service options:

1. Built-in service: Works out of the box with no setup required (Pro feature)
2. uTools built-in AI: If you use the uTools platform, you can tap directly into its AI capabilities
3. Custom API: Supports any OpenAI-compatible API, including a wide range of domestic AI model services

Your API key is encrypted and stored locally -- it never leaves your machine.

When AI Renaming Shines

AI-powered renaming is a great fit for:

• New users: Describe what you need in plain language -- no need to learn the rule system
• Complex requirements: Tasks that call for multiple rules stacked together -- let the AI handle the wiring
• Exploration: Not sure which rule works best? Let the AI suggest a starting point
• One-off tasks: A special rename you will only do once -- not worth the time to learn the configuration

Current Limitations

The AI features are still in Beta, with a few constraints:

• A maximum of 300 files per batch
• Requires an internet connection (to call the AI API)
• Complex file-content analysis (like deriving filenames from file contents) may still need a JS script
• The AI's suggestions may not hit 100% accuracy every time, but multi-turn conversation lets you refine them

Wrapping Up

AI renaming is not here to replace the traditional rule-based approach -- it is a lower barrier to entry. For simple tasks, just say what you want. For complex ones, the AI sets up the framework and you fine-tune the details.

Think of it like a navigation app -- you do not need to memorize every street. You just need to know where you want to go.