● Covered by 1 source · 1 reportLow impact1 neutral
Ambient Context macOS App Records On-Screen Text for LLM Processing
Key points
- Records on-screen text via macOS accessibility API.
- Stores data locally in Markdown files, one per day.
- Redacts sensitive information like passwords and API keys.
- Designed for personal LLM processing, no network calls.
- Requires macOS 14+ on Apple Silicon.
Ambient Context Functionality
Ambient Context is a macOS menu bar application that captures text from the user's currently focused window. It utilizes the macOS accessibility tree to read text every few seconds and appends it to a plain Markdown file. A new file is created each day, stored in a user-selected folder.
Privacy and Local Data Handling
The application emphasizes privacy by not taking screenshots or video, only reading text. All data remains on the user's machine, with no network calls, accounts, servers, or telemetry involved. Sensitive information, such as passwords and API keys, is redacted before being written to disk, and password fields are skipped entirely. The Markdown files are user-owned, allowing for full control over their management.
LLM Integration and Use Cases
Ambient Context is designed to generate input for personal Large Language Models (LLMs). The output Markdown files are formatted to be easily digestible by AI agents, with deduplicated lines, filtered interface junk, and document paths/URLs recorded. This enables LLMs to answer questions about past work, build project memory, or assist in generating summaries like stand-up reports. An `AGENTS.md` file is included in the data folder to explain the format to reading agents.
System Requirements and Installation
The application requires macOS 14 or newer and an Apple Silicon processor. As of its release, it is an early, unsigned build, necessitating a manual compilation process. Users need Node, Rust, and Xcode Command Line Tools to build the application from its GitHub repository.
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Primary sources
GitHub cmc_internal/api GitHub github/collect GitHub dragthelake/ambient-context GitHub _private/browser GitHub get-started/accessibility GitHub open-source/sponsorsReporting from
A new macOS menu bar application, Ambient Context, records on-screen text from focused windows into daily Markdown files for personal LLM use. This tool provides a local, privacy-focused method for users to create a digital memory of their work, enabling AI agents to summarize activities or provide context without relying on screenshots or cloud services.