Every MacBook has a notch that just sits there doing nothing. sideOS.ai, launching today on Product Hunt, wants to turn that dead space into an AI assistant that actually does things — dictating notes, handling meetings and running background tasks on your Mac.
The pitch is refreshingly tactile: hold Control + Option, say what you want, and let go. sideOS reads your screen, opens apps, clicks, types, and tells you when it is done. No separate window to babysit, no chat thread to scroll — the assistant lives in the notch and acts on your words.
sideOS.ai: Local AI That Clicks, Types and Works in the Background
The standout feature is the choice it gives you on the AI side. You can run it fully offline with local models — keeping your screen content and voice data on the machine — or plug in your own Claude, OpenAI, Gemini or Grok key if you prefer a cloud model’s horsepower. That flexibility matters: dictation and screen-reading are exactly the kind of tasks where privacy-conscious users want a local option.
The use cases stack up quickly: dictating messages hands-free, having the assistant run background tasks while you stay in flow, or letting it drive routine clicks and typing across your apps. Maker Buğrahan, who introduced the product on Product Hunt, frames it as an assistant that lives where you look and gets out of your way.
Pricing and Availability
One thing to know upfront: the launch listing is tagged “Payment Required,” so this is not a free tool — no specific pricing was disclosed in the listing, so check sideos.ai for the current plans. sideOS.ai launched in 2026 and ships exclusively for Mac.
If you have ever wished macOS had a built-in assistant with actual hands on your apps — one that works offline when you want it to — this one deserves a look.
sideOS.ai (Credits: Product Hunt / sideOS.ai)
Also Read: Stop Doing Windows Chores Manually: 3 Free PowerToys Tools That Do Them for You and Agent Hunt: A Live Leaderboard of the AI Tools Agents Actually Use, Ranked by Real Usage
Source: Product Hunt — read the full story there.
