DEVONthink 4 Beta: What's New and Why You Should Take a Closer Look

With the new release of DEVONthink 4 Beta, DEVONtechnologies brings many exciting features to the table – including stronger integration of AI, document versioning, and some improvements to the user interface. But not everything that glitters is gold. I took a close look at the update and would like to give you an overview and my personal assessment.

What's New in DEVONthink 4 Beta?

Here are the most important updates:

• AI-supported assistance: DEVONthink 4 Beta relies on artificial intelligence to help you with search and organization – however, currently only for web searches. Semantic searches within your own databases are not supported.
• Document versioning: Changes to documents can now be tracked, and previous versions can be restored if needed.
• Modernized user interface: At first glance, not much has changed in the UI. There are new icons and menu options, but the overall layout and operation have largely remained the same.
• Redesigned DEVONthink Server interface: Users of the server version can look forward to a new, more modern web interface, making browser-based usage much more pleasant.
• Enhanced synchronization: Synchronization and collaboration features have been improved.
• New licensing model: A more flexible and affordable licensing and upgrade model has been introduced.

My Assessment: Where There Is Light, There Is Also Shadow

1. AI Support – Critical for Businesses

Even though the AI in DEVONthink 4 is currently mainly intended to improve web searches, the use of AI remains problematic from my point of view – especially in corporate contexts.

Even if there is no internal semantic analysis of your own databases at this time, the use of AI always opens a potential door to data privacy risks. Companies, in particular, should be extremely cautious when handling sensitive or personal data.

My tip: Either disable AI features or use them very consciously when working with confidential information.
Additionally, it is worth mentioning that companies of all sizes are now required to participate in AI Act training (mandatory since February 2025) and must be able to provide proof of compliance.

2. Versioning – Practical but Not GoBD-Compliant

The new versioning feature is certainly practical for everyday use. However, it does not meet legal requirements such as GoBD, HGB, or AO.

It lacks:

• Audit-proof archiving,
• Logging of all changes and accesses,
• Immutability of stored data,
• Mandatory metadata fields needed for audit security.

My tip: For tax-relevant or legally sensitive documents, you will still need specialized archiving solutions.

3. UI Improvements – Smaller Than Expected

While the design has been refined in several places – with new icons and menu options – the core user interface remains essentially unchanged.
If you were hoping for a completely new user experience, you might be a little disappointed.

Only the server section of DEVONthink 4 Beta has been visibly modernized. Here, the update is particularly worthwhile for teams that rely on browser-based access.

Conclusion: Great for Private Users, Businesses Should Be Cautious

DEVONthink 4 Beta offers many useful improvements – especially for private users, students, or researchers who want to organize their knowledge efficiently.

However, for businesses that place particular importance on data protection and legally compliant archiving, I view the new features with some caution. In particular, the use of AI and the simple versioning functions do not fully cover the necessary legal requirements.

My advice: Carefully assess whether DEVONthink 4 Beta fits your specific needs – and when dealing with sensitive data, it’s better to be on the safe side.
Additionally, I am curious to see which further beta versions will be released and what new features might still come.