TL;DR
- Private AI is not one setting: check audio processing, text processing, screen access, storage, and model training separately.
- A local-first Mac assistant can keep speech recognition on-device while sending only selected text for optional AI actions.
- Lazur uses on-device speech-to-text and optional text-only cloud processing for polish and context-aware actions.
A private AI assistant for Mac should make its data boundaries easy to understand. Ask where audio is processed, when screen context is captured, what text leaves the device, how long it is retained, and whether your content is used to train general models.
Lazur is local-first: NVIDIA Parakeet speech-to-text runs on the Mac, while optional text-only cloud processing supports polish and context-aware actions.
Five privacy boundaries to check
1. Audio
Local speech recognition means your recording does not need to travel to a server for transcription. This is different from a service that uploads every audio clip to a hosted speech API.
2. Text
Even with local speech recognition, a writing assistant may send text to a cloud model for rewriting or reasoning. Check whether cloud processing is optional and what text is included.
3. Screen context
Screen-aware assistants need a clear permission model. Ask whether they capture continuously, only during a request, or only from a selected window or region.
4. Storage
A product can process data without storing it permanently. Read the retention policy for history, prompts, generated text, and context snapshots.
5. Training
“Not used for training” should be explicit. It should cover the content you create and the context the assistant processes.
A practical privacy checklist
| Question | Good sign |
|---|---|
| Is audio uploaded? | No, speech recognition runs locally |
| Is screen access required? | Optional and explained clearly |
| Is cloud AI required? | Only for selected features |
| Is content used for training? | No by default, stated in the policy |
| Can permissions be revoked? | Yes, through macOS settings |
Read Lazur's privacy policy for the current details. Privacy is not a marketing adjective; it is a set of technical and product choices.
Bottom line
The right private AI assistant is the one whose boundaries match your risk model. Use local speech for sensitive work, understand when text or screen context is processed remotely, and review generated output before it leaves your organization.
FAQ
- What is the most private AI assistant for Mac?
- The most private option depends on what you need and what the product processes locally. Look for on-device speech recognition, explicit screen permissions, short-lived context handling, clear retention rules, and no training on your content.
- Does a private AI assistant need internet access?
- Not always. Local speech recognition can work without sending audio to a server, while advanced writing or reasoning features may use cloud text processing when enabled.
- Is Lazur private?
- Lazur runs speech-to-text on the Mac and does not upload audio for transcription. Optional polish and context-aware actions may process text through cloud AI when those features run; see the Lazur privacy policy for the details.