ChatGPT is a powerful AI chatbot that lives in your browser. Cue is a native voice AI agent that lives on your Mac, understands your screen context, and executes tasks directly in your apps. The core difference is simple: ChatGPT talks about the work, while Cue does the work for you.
Cue integrates with your entire desktop. Press the Fn key to give a command like 'summarize this document and email it to my team'. Cue sees your screen, understands the context, and performs the actions without you ever leaving your app or copy-pasting.
Go beyond simple text generation. Ask Cue to write a Python script, run it in Terminal, and save the output to a new file on your desktop. It handles complex workflows that require interacting with multiple applications and your file system.
Cue keeps a local copy. If you sign in, thread messages and preferences sync through Cue for cross-device continuity. Voice and screen context is sent to providers only when needed to fulfill a request; Cue does not use it to train models.
Stop typing and start talking. Hold the Option key to activate Cue's dictation mode in any text field on your Mac. It's fast, accurate, supports over 20 languages, and is included for free.
| Feature | Cue | ChatGPT |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Interface | Desktop Agent (Fn key) | Web Browser Tab |
| Screen & App Context | Yes, fully aware | No, requires copy-paste |
| Executes Tasks in Apps | Yes, manages files, runs scripts | No, generates text/code only |
| Voice Dictation | Built-in, system-wide | Requires browser extension or app |
| Privacy | Local copy; signed-in thread sync; request-time cloud processing | History stored on company servers |
| Offline Access | Limited to local functions | No, requires internet |
| Free Plan | Unlimited dictation + 20 agent credits/day | Unlimited chats with standard model |
| Works In | Any app on macOS or Windows | Any web browser |
They hear what you said.
Cue sees what you're doing.
And does the thing, in any app.
Yes. The Cue Plus plan gives you access to premium AI models, including GPT-4o and Claude Sonnet. You can get the same high-quality responses from the models you know, but with Cue's added context and action-taking abilities.
No. Cue is a standalone application that uses various AI models via their APIs. Its unique value is its ability to understand your screen, selected text, and active app to execute tasks directly on your computer, which a standard chatbot cannot do.
It depends on your needs. For tasks that require direct action on your Mac like managing files, writing code in your editor, or summarizing a report in Pages, Cue is far more efficient. You might still prefer ChatGPT for general web-based research or creative brainstorming in a browser.
Cue keeps a local copy. If you sign in, thread messages and preferences sync through Cue for cross-device continuity. Voice and screen context is sent to providers only when needed to fulfill a request; Cue does not use it to train models.
Yes, Cue has a generous free plan that includes unlimited voice dictation and 20 agent credits every day, which is enough for many users. For unlimited use and premium AI models, you can upgrade to Cue Plus.
If you're happy working in a browser tab, ChatGPT is an excellent tool. But if you want an AI assistant that works alongside you, understands your context, and takes action directly on your Mac, Cue is the clear choice. Download Cue for free and experience a smarter way to work.