Feature

Local transcription when privacy matters.

ExtraBrain supports local NVIDIA Parakeet transcription for on-device workflows, local Gemma 4 on-device AI where installed and compatible, and optional Deepgram when you choose cloud transcription.

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Summary

Key takeaways

Local Transcription for ExtraBrain is part of ExtraBrain's local-first Mac workflow for live interviews, meetings, transcription, provider control, and responsible AI use.

Page focus

ExtraBrain supports local NVIDIA Parakeet transcription for on-device workflows, local Gemma 4 on-device AI where installed and compatible, and optional Deepgram when you choose cloud transcription.

Platform fact

ExtraBrain has 1 current public platform family, macOS, with support for 2 Mac CPU families: Apple Silicon and Intel.

Data-flow fact

ExtraBrain has 3 configurable data paths to review before sensitive work: local Parakeet transcription, local Gemma 4 where installed and compatible, and external providers you choose.

Feature

Transcription choices

Local Parakeet

Use local transcription when you want the strictest default data-flow posture.

Local Gemma 4

Use local Gemma 4 where installed and compatible when model requests should stay local.

Optional Deepgram

Use Deepgram when cloud transcription quality, language support, or workflow needs make sense for the session.

Provider-aware prompts

Transcript text can stay local with local Gemma 4 or be sent to the configured model provider when you request external AI help.

Feature

How transcription supports live workflows

Interview prompts

Turn spoken instructions, clarifications, and constraints into structured notes before you answer.

Meeting memory

Keep decisions, risks, owners, blockers, and follow-ups connected to the live conversation.

Privacy posture

Choose local transcription when audio should remain on the device, or optional Deepgram when cloud transcription fits the session.

Feature

Local transcription comparison checklist

Local versus cloud

Confirm whether audio is transcribed on your device, uploaded to a transcription service, or processed by a meeting bot vendor.

Offline expectations

Local transcription can reduce cloud dependency, but model downloads, app updates, external providers, and optional cloud transcription still require network access.

Summary path

A transcript can be local while the summary is cloud-generated if you send it to an external model provider. Pick both paths deliberately.

FAQ

Common questions.

Short answers for people and crawlers comparing ExtraBrain with other live AI assistants.

Does ExtraBrain support local transcription?

Yes. ExtraBrain supports local NVIDIA Parakeet transcription for workflows where transcription should stay on the Mac.

Can I use Deepgram with ExtraBrain?

Yes. Deepgram is optional and should be used only when its cloud transcription path fits your session and privacy requirements.

Does transcript text always stay local?

Transcript text can stay local with local Parakeet transcription and local Gemma 4, but it can be sent to external providers when you choose provider-backed requests.

Is local transcription the same as a fully local AI workflow?

No. Local transcription only covers the speech-to-text path. A fully local posture also requires local Gemma 4 where installed and compatible and no external provider requests.