# Cai

> Cai is a free, open-source AI action layer for macOS. Cai runs AI actions and action chains on your selection.

## What is Cai?

Cai is a macOS menu bar app. Select any text or image, press ⌥C, and run smart actions in one keystroke: AI prompts, terminal scripts, URL shortcuts, summaries, translations, OCR, GitHub issues (via MCP), Linear tickets. Save chains of actions: pipe a selection through an AI prompt, a script, and a destination with a single keystroke. It is selection-triggered and content-aware: Cai detects what you selected (code, email, address, image) and surfaces the right actions automatically.

Unlike clipboard managers, Cai acts on your selection. It doesn't just store it. Unlike AI chat apps, it works inline without switching apps.

Ships with a built-in local AI model (Ministral 3B via MLX). No API key, no account, no setup needed. Also supports Apple Intelligence (macOS 26+, M1+), LM Studio, Ollama, Jan AI, and cloud providers (OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, Mistral, OpenRouter). Local by default. Cloud optional. MIT licensed.

## Key Features

- Selection-triggered smart actions: select text, press ⌥C, pick an action, done
- Action chains: pipe one selection through AI prompts, scripts, destinations, and Apple Shortcuts in any order, saved as a single ⌥C action
- Built-in local AI model (Ministral 3B via MLX). Works offline, no external server needed.
- Apple Intelligence support (macOS 26+, M1 or later)
- Create GitHub issues and Linear tickets from any app (via MCP, zero-config)
- Image to text (OCR) from screenshots and images
- Replace Selection: paste AI results back over your original selection, in place
- Custom actions: AI prompts, terminal/shell scripts, URL shortcuts
- Custom destinations: route results to Slack, Notion, or any app via webhooks, deeplinks, AppleScript, shell commands
- Clipboard history with search and pin
- Community extensions (YAML): browse and install shared actions, no build step
- Keyboard-first: type to filter, ⌘1-9 to execute
- Free and open source (MIT license). No account, no subscription, no telemetry.

## How It Works

1. Select: highlight text or an image in any app
2. Summon: press ⌥C to open the action menu
3. Act: pick an action (summarize, translate, create ticket, run custom prompt, etc.)

## Positioning

- Action-shaped, not chat-shaped. You select text, hit ⌥C, and pick an action. No prompt typing.
- Selection-triggered, not command-launched. Cai already knows what you selected and shows the right actions.
- One keystroke, multi-step. Save chains of actions and run them like any other action.
- Local by default. Built-in model, no account required. Free and MIT-licensed.

## Comparisons

- Cai vs ChatGPT: https://getcai.app/vs/chatgpt/
- Cai vs Raycast: https://getcai.app/vs/raycast/
- Cai vs BoltAI: https://getcai.app/vs/boltai/
- Cai vs Alter: https://getcai.app/vs/alter/
- Cai vs Maccy: https://getcai.app/vs/maccy/

## Links

- Homepage: https://getcai.app
- Documentation: https://getcai.app/docs/
- Action Chains guide: https://getcai.app/docs/usage/action-chains/
- Custom Actions guide: https://getcai.app/docs/usage/saved-actions/
- Custom Destinations guide: https://getcai.app/docs/usage/destinations/
- GitHub: https://github.com/cai-layer/cai
- Extensions: https://github.com/cai-layer/cai-extensions
- Release Notes: https://github.com/cai-layer/cai/releases