Supercharge Claris FileMaker with Private AI: Integrating Local LLMs like Llama 3
Ben Fletcher • 13 May 2025
Artificial Intelligence is transforming how businesses operate—from automating customer service and generating intelligent insights to streamlining internal workflows. But while many organisations are eager to take advantage of AI, privacy and data security remain critical concerns—especially in sectors like healthcare, legal services, finance, and manufacturing.
At DataTherapy, we believe you shouldn’t have to compromise on data sovereignty to benefit from modern AI. That’s why we’re helping customers integrate local large language models (LLMs), like Meta’s Llama 3, directly into their Claris FileMaker systems.
Why Local AI Models Like Llama 3?
Meta’s Llama 3 is part of a new generation of open-source language models that can run entirely on-premise or in your private cloud infrastructure. Unlike cloud-based AI services, local models give you full control over your data while still delivering cutting-edge performance in natural language processing tasks.
Benefits of Integrating FileMaker with Local AI
🔒1. Total Data Privacy and Control
- One of the primary advantages of local LLMs is that your data never leaves your infrastructure. This eliminates the risk of data exposure via third-party cloud providers and ensures compliance with stringent data regulations (e.g. GDPR, HIPAA, or internal policies).
- Claris FileMaker is already a secure platform—integrating a local LLM keeps your AI-enhanced workflows just as secure as no data is sent to 3rd party cloud AI providers.
⚙️2. Intelligent Automation Inside FileMaker
Imagine using Claris FileMaker scripts to call your LLM for:
- Generating customer email drafts based on CRM history.
- Summarising case notes or technical documentation.
- Automatically categorising support tickets.
- Producing tailored content suggestions or insights.
All within your custom FileMaker app, using your own local AI.
🧠3. AI Built Around Your Business
- Public AI services are trained on generic data. Local LLMs can be fine-tuned on your proprietary data, meaning the AI understands your terminology, processes, and objectives. The result? Smarter automation and better results tailored specifically to your organisation.
🛠️4. Flexible & Customisable Integration
- Thanks to FileMaker’s support for Perform Script on Server, cURL, and JSON functions, we can build secure bridges between FileMaker and Llama 3 running on a local server. This gives your FileMaker solution the ability to pass structured prompts, receive intelligent responses, and update records dynamically.
🕒5. Real-Time, Offline AI
- Need AI-powered functionality in remote locations with poor internet? Local LLMs don’t require an internet connection to function. Whether you’re on a hospital intranet, a remote manufacturing plant, or secure office network, AI-powered workflows stay fast, responsive, and independent.
Example Use Cases
- Legal Services - Draft contracts, summarise legal documents, and extract obligations from client briefs.
- Healthcare - Summarise patient histories, generate discharge instructions, or flag anomalies in case notes.
- Manufacturing - Turn logs and incident reports into structured insights for maintenance or compliance.
- Professional Services - Draft proposals, internal reports, or summarise meeting notes.
Why FileMaker + Local AI Is a Perfect Match
FileMaker’s flexibility, rapid development speed, and robust client-server architecture make it a powerful platform for custom AI-enhanced business systems for SMEs. Pairing it with a local LLM offers an unmatched combination of power, privacy, and agility.
And with Claris continuing to invest in API support, server performance, and modular app architecture, FileMaker is future-ready for advanced integrations like these.
Ready to Bring Private AI Into Your Business?
At DataTherapy, we’re experts in maximising your return investment with the Claris FileMaker platform. If you’re curious about adding AI to your solution—but want to keep your data private, secure, and compliant—we can help you integrate Llama 3 or other open-source models into your existing FileMaker systems.
Contact us today for a free consultation and discover how private AI can unlock new efficiency, insight, and innovation—without compromising your data privacy.
Discover how DataTherapy built a secure, cloud-based academic recruitment portal for The Francis Crick Institute using Platopus SaaS and Claris FileMaker. Streamlined applications, advanced reporting, and Okta authentication deliver a faster, more efficient hiring process.
While the new AI features of Claris FileMaker 2025 will undoubtedly generate the most headline interest, there are a number of other new under the hood features which are no less important to professional FileMaker developers. Here is a quick overview of some of the new features we will be using immediately to speed and ease our development, as well as improving the real world performance of apps: 1) GetFieldsOnLayout function Returns a list of the fields on a layout as JSON data. Includes only the fields that are accessible to a find.
Upgrade to Claris FileMaker 2025 with secure, scalable UK-managed hosting by DataTherapy. Fast setup, expert support, AWS infrastructure, no long contracts.
Claris FileMaker 2025 has launched with a range of new features that will undoubtedly make developing new custom apps both quicker and more powerful, but what are the benefits of upgrading if you are currently using an older version of the FileMaker platform? Using a version older than of FileMaker 19? In that case there are even more good reasons to upgrade - contact our team to find out more about the benefits from upgrading that you have been missing out on! Highlighted below are some of the key differences in features were introduced between FileMaker v19, 2023 (v20), 2024 (v21) and now 2025 (v22) releases:
Claris FileMaker 2025 is the ultimate platform for custom app creation, now with powerful new native features for leveraging Artificial Intelligence by integrating Large Language Models (LLMs) and integrating with Claris Connect and Claris Studio . Given its advanced features and capabilities, it's the platform of choice for SMEs seeking to start fresh building a new custom business app. However, if you're thinking about upgrading from an older Claris FileMaker version, preparation is key, and that's where we come in. This brief guide outlines the major points of consideration when upgrading. However, don't worry if these technicalities overwhelm you - our expert consulting team is just a click away, ready to guide you through any concerns. The Upgrade Process: Claris FileMaker v12-v2024 (.fmp12 format) The good news: versions 12-2024 share the same file format as the 2025 version, making upgrades a breeze. However, certain interface changes might require user adaptation if your app was built prior to FileMaker 16. For example, if your users utilize the footer bar for zoom control, view mode changes, or status bar display, they'll have to adjust to using the upper status bar and application menus. If that's a challenge, our consultants can assist with incorporating zoom control into your interface layouts. One caveat is that while it's possible to use legacy versions of Claris FileMaker Pro to connect to Claris FileMaker Server 2025, we advise against it. Mixing client versions can prevent you from leveraging the full benefits of the Claris FileMaker 2025 feature set. For maximum security and optimal performance, make sure both the server and all users are on the latest software version and patch. Claris have compiled a handy checklist of deprecated features in Claris FileMaker 2025, so make sure to verify if these impact your usage: https://support.claris.com/s/answerview?anum=000048380&language=en_US Revamping Your Legacy Systems: Claris FileMaker v11-6 (.fp7 & .fp5 format) or earlier Older versions of FileMaker are a testament to the platform's longevity. However, they do come with unique challenges, including the impossibility of direct conversion using Claris FileMaker 2024. Don't worry, we're equipped to handle these issues and are ready to bring your vintage database files into the present. We also recommend considering a fresh start. The latest Claris FileMaker boasts myriad features that can significantly boost your business operations. Remember: upgrading isn't merely about maintaining the status quo—it's about embracing innovation and driving your business forward. If you want to do the minimum possible work to convert your files into the v2025 format then look at our previous guide for FileMaker Pro 19: https://www.datatherapy.com/news/2020/6/5/planning-your-upgrade-to-claris-filemaker-19-platform General Upgrade Considerations: Let's Get Practical No matter your current version, our team can assist you through the upgrade process, even if your app involves complex dependencies, such as integrations with legacy software or plugins. Note that most plugins will require updates (sometimes paid) to ensure compatibility with Claris FileMaker 2025. We encourage you to consider the future-proofing benefits of a 'cloud-first' and 'AI-first' mindset. Older systems may not have been built with this in mind, but the modern FileMaker platform has been designed to seamlessly integrate with other cloud solutions and now leading public and private LLMs. Ultimately, we believe that your software should work for you, not the other way around. That's why we're committed to ensuring your upgrade is more than a simple technical exercise—it's a strategic move that aligns with your business' evolution. If you're ready to harness the power of the modern, interconnected, and dynamic Claris FileMaker 2025, get in touch with us today . We're here to help you achieve your business goals.
What is new in FileMaker 2025?
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Claris has added dozens of new features with each release of FileMaker - so many that it is hard to quickly see exactly how you might quickly benefit from updating. Here we summarise some of our favourite features we like to highlight to customers looking to upgrade:
