ValenceHelix AI Labs

October 5, 2026

Valence 1.8.0 - See how answers are made

See how your answer was made, a cleaner composer, and web search that is yours.

Valence step trail - a local model thinks, runs the calculator, analyzes the result, then answers

Shown in 1.8.1, where each thought also shows how long it took.

What’s new

  • See the steps behind an answer. When a local model thinks, uses a tool or searches the web, the steps appear as a short trail above its reply — what it thought about, what it searched for, and when it read the results. The trail is saved with the conversation, so it is still there when you come back.

  • A calmer composer. The message box holds just four things: attach, microphone, token count and send. Thinking and Tools moved into the model menu, next to the model they belong to, and Templates moved into the main menu under Conversation.

    The 1.8 composer - attach, microphone, token count and send

    The model menu - Thinking levels for this model, and Tools for all models, including web search setup

  • Web search uses your own free Tavily key. If you used web search before, open the model menu and choose Set up web search — it takes about a minute, and Tavily’s free plan includes 1,000 searches a month. Until a key is added, web search stays off. Settings shows your saved key, how many searches are left this month, and when it was last checked.
  • Safer for kids. In Kids Mode, Stop and Esc work while an answer is being prepared, a stopped answer is never shown half-finished, and a message about being in crisis always shows the hotline information. Asking for a new answer no longer leaves two answers behind.

Fixes

  • The Qwen 3.8 27B Balanced model downloads again (it failed with a download error).
  • X-Ray’s Performance History records your local replies and refreshes each time you open it.
  • A new app icon.

Download

Valence 1.8.0 — Slim (.msi) · 121 MB · your GPU pack is fetched on first run.

Valence 1.8.0 — All-in-one (.msi) · 620 MB · CUDA + Vulkan bundled, fully offline.

Windows 10/11 (64-bit) · 7-day free trial, then $24.99 for Windows, or $59.95 for every platform.

All-in-one SHA-256: 23C7FB290DA1B4290FE51117C85111469EC8A9D1D4BD61BCD0EA2D76F17E2F6D Slim SHA-256: A039F09306F6BB490D1736D5DDF1A2CEC64156CB212B37ACF8C3FDB4D5C62829 Unsigned installer — SmartScreen may warn: More info → Run anyway. Existing installs upgrade in place.

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