Google Launches Foresight, Local AI Note-Taking on Mac

Google introduces Foresight, an AI-powered note-taking application available on Mac. The tool promises to handle transcription and audio locally, including offline, and to assist with meetings without relying on the cloud. It integrates with video conferencing services and supports various formats. No information is provided at this stage regarding Gmail synchronization or a Windows version.

Mac Only and No Indications on Gmail or Windows

Foresight is offered for MacOS and, for now, only on this platform. No information is given about potential synchronization with Gmail. No availability date is communicated for Windows. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this matter.

Transcribe, Assist, and Organize During Meetings

Google launched Foresight this week, which can listen in the background to transcribe conversations. Users can jot down quick points that the application transforms into structured notes from the transcript, and it is possible to write simultaneously with the transcription on the same screen. The tool can reference files to help answer questions or use a Live Assistance feature to respond automatically. It also allows for custom tagging, filtering, and searching without relying on the cloud. Foresight is compatible with Google Meet, Zoom, and offline conversations to transcribe, organize, and provide responses based on the notes.

Supported Document Formats

On the file side, Foresight accepts PDFs, Google Docs, Microsoft Office, plain text, Markdown, and web bookmarks.

Local Processing, Privacy Promises, and Battery Life

Google states that Foresight can transcribe without sending conversations to a data center. According to the company, the application runs directly on Mac, works without an internet connection while offering queries and assistance, and the processing of transcription as well as audio occurs on the user's machine. It also specifies that personal data, files, recordings, and transcripts are not transferred to the cloud and that the technology used is said to have low battery consumption. Many AI-powered note-taking applications exist on the market, such as Scribe, Granola, or Notion AI, and most of them rely on the cloud for data storage and access, which poses a significant privacy risk. Local alternatives like Meetily and Whisper AI exist and are presented as minimizing this risk.