Beyond simple transcription: Leveraging on-device LLMs for speaker separation and structured insights.
——By the Geode Team
For years, the software industry relied on a convenient assumption:
“Local computers simply aren’t strong enough.”
We were told that accurate transcription required massive server farms, and that features like speaker separation or meeting summaries belonged exclusively in the cloud.
That assumption ended the moment Apple released the M-series chips.
Geode is proof that the balance has shifted. We built our engine around on-device AI, designed to fully utilize Apple Silicon—keeping your data cloud-free without giving up usefulness or speed.
This is the architecture behind Geode.
Built for Apple Silicon
Most transcription apps are thin wrappers around cloud services. They send your audio away because it’s easier to build—not because it produces better results. That approach often requires users to accept broad privacy terms and unclear expectations around how recordings may be processed.
Geode takes a different path.
It runs directly on your Mac. By using the Neural Engine built into Apple Silicon, Geode performs transcription and analysis through on-device processing, entirely on your device. No remote execution. No background uploads.
The result is fast, reliable transcription that respects your system. Meetings are processed efficiently, without unnecessary battery drain or heat—and without routing sensitive conversations through third-party servers.
Local Focus vs. Cloud Breadth
We believe in being honest about trade-offs.
Large cloud models are trained on enormous amounts of public data. They aim to do everything. Local models are more focused. They are built to understand your meetings—nothing more, nothing less.
In extreme cases—very poor audio or heavy accents—cloud models may still have an edge. But for everyday professional conversations, the practical difference is usually small.
What local models offer instead is consistency and control. Your data stays where it was created. There is no need to export files, send them away, or import to local again after processing. The information never leaves your device in the first place.
From Text to Usable Insights
This is where Geode goes beyond basic recorders.
Raw transcripts are hard to work with. What professionals need are clear takeaways. Geode uses lightweight on-device AI models and practical templates to turn conversations into useful outputs—without pushing your data into external systems or requiring implicit model training consent.
You get:
- Executive summaries — a clear overview of the discussion
- Action items — who needs to do what
- Key takeaways — important decisions and points
- Clean formatting — structured notes ready to use or share
Because the system is designed to extract meaning—not invent content—it prioritizes accuracy and clarity.
The 95 / 5 Rule (BYOK)
Geode is built to handle about 95% of professional workflows fully offline—securely, privately, and cloud-free.
For the remaining edge cases—such as severely degraded audio or tasks that require external validation—Geode offers an optional Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) path, launching in late January 2026.
This option is always explicit and user-controlled. You decide when to use it, which service to connect, and which credentials to provide. Nothing runs automatically, and no external processing occurs without your clear intent.
Geode’s default behavior remains local.
Efficiency Is the Real Privacy Advantage
We chose this architecture for practical reasons.
Processing data locally removes entire categories of risk. There are no files to transmit, no servers to maintain, and no backlog of sensitive data waiting to be protected later.
When your data never leaves your machine, there is simply less that can go wrong.
Your Mac already has the power.
Geode gives it the software to use it well.
Stop uploading. Start processing.
