AI & Productivity Glossary
Understand the technology behind AI text transformation, local LLMs, and voice dictation.
AI Text Transformation
AI text transformation is the process of using artificial intelligence models to modify, improve, or convert text. This includes grammar correction, translation, summarization, tone adjustment, and rewriting.
Read moreLocal LLM
A local LLM (Large Language Model) is an AI model that runs entirely on your own computer instead of in the cloud. Tools like Ollama, LocalAI, and LiteLLM make it easy to run models locally on Mac.
Read moreAI Voice Dictation
AI voice dictation is the use of artificial intelligence to convert spoken words into written text. Modern AI dictation engines run locally on your device, support multiple languages, and can post-process transcriptions with AI.
Read morePrompt Engineering for Text
Prompt engineering is the practice of writing effective instructions for AI models to get the best results. For text transformation, this means crafting prompts that tell the AI exactly how to modify your text.
Read moreBYOK (Bring Your Own Key)
BYOK (Bring Your Own Key) is a model where an AI tool lets you use your own API key from an AI provider rather than routing your data through the tool's servers. This gives you direct control over privacy, costs, and model selection.
Read moreSpeech-to-Text (STT)
Speech-to-text (STT) is the technology that converts spoken language into written text. Also called automatic speech recognition (ASR), it powers dictation tools, voice assistants, and transcription services.
Read moreText Expansion
Text expansion is a productivity technique where short abbreviations or triggers are automatically replaced with longer text snippets. Traditional tools like TextExpander and Espanso use static templates, while AI-powered tools like Echoo generate context-aware output.
Read moreApple Neural Engine
The Apple Neural Engine (ANE) is a dedicated hardware component in Apple Silicon chips (M1, M2, M3, M4) designed to accelerate machine learning tasks. It enables AI models to run locally on Mac at high speed with low power consumption.
Read moreAPI Key
An API key is a unique string of characters that authenticates your requests to an AI service. When you use tools like OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google Gemini, your API key proves your identity and tracks your usage for billing.
Read moreOllama
Ollama is an open-source tool that makes it easy to run large language models (LLMs) locally on your computer. It handles model downloading, optimization, and serving through a simple command-line interface and local API.
Read moreAI Grammar Checker
An AI grammar checker uses artificial intelligence to detect and fix grammar, spelling, punctuation, and style issues in text. Unlike rule-based spell-checkers, AI grammar checkers understand context and can suggest better phrasing, not just corrections.
Read moreContext Window
A context window is the maximum amount of text an AI model can process in a single request, measured in tokens. Tokens are roughly equivalent to words (1 token ≈ 0.75 words). Larger context windows allow processing longer documents.
Read moreGGUF Model Format
GGUF (GPT-Generated Unified Format) is a file format for storing quantized AI models that can run efficiently on consumer hardware. It's the standard format used by Ollama, llama.cpp, and other local AI tools.
Read moreKeyboard Shortcuts for Productivity
AI keyboard shortcuts are key combinations that trigger AI-powered text transformations directly in your current application. Instead of copy-pasting text to an AI tool, you select text and press a shortcut to transform it in place.
Read moreAI Writing Assistant
An AI writing assistant is software that uses artificial intelligence to help you write, edit, and improve text. These range from grammar checkers to full writing tools that can draft, rewrite, translate, and adjust tone.
Read moreOpen Source AI
Open source AI refers to AI software whose source code is publicly available for anyone to inspect, modify, and distribute. This includes both AI models (like Llama, Mistral) and AI-powered tools (like Echoo) whose code is fully transparent.
Read moremacOS Accessibility API
The macOS Accessibility API is a system framework that allows applications to interact with UI elements in other apps. It enables tools like Echoo to read selected text and replace it with transformed content in any application.
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