Voice-controlled computer actions
Hold Control and Option, speak a request, and release. sideOS reads the current screen, carries out the relevant actions, and reports the result aloud.
sideOS
sideOS is a macOS AI assistant that lives in the MacBook notch and turns spoken requests into screen-aware computer actions, dictation, background tasks, and meeting summaries. It is aimed at Mac users who want to control apps and coordinate work with voice commands.
AI assistant for controlling a Mac
sideOS is a macOS AI assistant designed to sit in the MacBook notch and operate the computer through spoken instructions. Hold Control and Option, say what you want, and release; it can inspect the screen, choose an action, open apps, click, type, and tell you what happened.
The product combines foreground computer control with background tasks, on-device dictation, meeting transcription, reminders, connected services, and optional activity history. It is intended for workflows where a user wants to move from a natural-language request to an action or finished file without manually coordinating each application.
Core features
Screen-aware interaction
The accessibility tree provides named controls, while screen images serve as a fallback. A screen region can also be circled with the pointer and included with the request.
Mac app control
sideOS can open apps, click, type, use key combinations, and run AppleScript. It can work across Mail, Notes, Calendar, browsers, and other Mac applications.
Background task execution
Long jobs run separately from the chat and can use shell commands, files, web search, page reading, rendered PDFs, and AppleScript. Results are saved in Documents › sideOS Tasks.
Meeting transcription and summaries
The app can record meetings from Zoom, Meet, or Teams after offering a one-tap recording control, then transcribe on-device, separate speakers, and create summaries, decisions, and actions.
Connected tools and MCP
Connectors for Gmail, Calendar, Notion, Slack, and GitHub can add tools to the built-in toolbox. Write-capable tools are disabled until enabled, and custom MCP configurations can be pasted as JSON.
Practical use cases
Reviewing work and drafting follow-ups
Ask sideOS to inspect a report or spreadsheet on screen, explain a change such as a revenue drop, and draft a message to colleagues. The request can include a region circled on screen for context.
Research and document production
Give it a longer research or document job while continuing to work. It can search the web, read pages and files, create a report, render a PDF, and place the outputs in the sideOS Tasks folder.
Capturing meeting outcomes
When a Zoom, Meet, or Teams window appears, use the offered recording control to capture a meeting. After recording stops, sideOS produces a transcript, separates speakers, summarizes decisions, and turns actions into reminders.
Hands-free writing and entry
Speak text directly into the active field in almost any app, or use the clipboard when no editable field is focused. This suits quick notes, email drafts, and cross-application data entry.
Coordinating connected services
Connect work services and ask for a multi-step result, such as replying to a message and adding an event to a calendar. Write-capable tools remain off until the user enables them.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Uses spoken requests together with screen context rather than requiring users to describe every interface element.
- Supports both immediate actions and longer background jobs, with task outputs collected in a dedicated folder.
- Dictation and meeting transcription are described as running on the Mac, with no cloud model or audio upload for those workflows.
- Offers built-in Mac controls plus optional connections to services including Gmail, Calendar, Notion, Slack, and GitHub.
- Includes safety controls for destructive actions and keeps activity history off by default.
Cons
- The product is described for macOS and the supplied evidence does not specify supported macOS versions, installation requirements, or compatibility with non-Mac computers.
- Some actions and connected tools require user approval or explicit enabling, so sideOS is not fully hands-off for operations that can change or delete data.
- The available pricing evidence confirms a one-time purchase but does not state the amount or detailed license terms.
FAQ
How do you use sideOS?
sideOS is presented as a macOS app that lives in the MacBook notch. The main interaction is to hold Control and Option, speak, and release; a tap-based dictation mode is also available.
What kinds of tasks can sideOS perform?
It can read the screen through macOS accessibility information, use images as a fallback, open apps, click, type, press key combinations, and run AppleScript. For longer jobs, it can also use shell commands, files, web search, page reads, rendered PDFs, and AppleScript.
How does dictation handle privacy and language support?
Dictation uses macOS recognition engines and is described as on-device, with no internet request or separate usage charge. Dictation is available in 62 languages on the classic engine; the newer engine has no stated time limit.
Where do task and meeting results go?
Long-running work is placed in Documents › sideOS Tasks, with a notification when it finishes or needs attention. Meeting recordings are transcribed on the Mac, and summaries and action items are produced when recording stops.
Can sideOS work with other apps and services?
Connections can be added through a browser sign-in for services such as Gmail, Calendar, Notion, Slack, and GitHub. Tools that can send, delete, or change data start disabled, and external MCP configurations can be added as JSON with secrets stored in the Mac Keychain.
Quick Facts
- Category
- AI assistant and productivity tool
- Platform
- macOS; designed for MacBook notch workflows
- Primary interaction
- Hold Control + Option, speak, and release
- Dictation
- On-device macOS recognition; 62 languages on the classic engine
- Automation
- Foreground app control plus background tasks
- Purchase model
- One-time purchase; price and license terms not stated in the available evidence
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