Ghost Pepper: Local Speech-to-Text for macOS

Ghost Pepper is a macOS application designed for seamless, local speech-to-text conversion. By holding the Control key, users can record their speech, which is then transcribed and pasted into any text field upon release. This process is entirely local, ensuring no data leaves the user's machine, as it does not rely on cloud APIs. The app is optimized for Apple Silicon and supports macOS 14.0 and above.

Ghost Pepper operates using open-source models that are automatically downloaded and cached locally. The speech models, powered by WhisperKit, include options like Whisper tiny.en for fast, English-only transcription, and Parakeet v3 for multilingual support. Cleanup models, powered by LLM.swift, enhance transcription quality by removing filler words and correcting errors, with options varying in speed and quality.

The app is user-friendly, residing in the menu bar without cluttering the dock, and launches at login by default. Users can customize settings, such as selecting a microphone or toggling features. Installation is straightforward, requiring microphone and accessibility permissions for full functionality.

Ghost Pepper is built with privacy in mind, ensuring no transcription data is logged to disk, and debug logs are temporary. It also supports enterprise environments, allowing IT admins to pre-approve necessary permissions on managed devices using MDM profiles.

The name 'Ghost Pepper' reflects the app's spicy offering of a free, local solution that rivals costly cloud-based alternatives.