A new artificial intelligence powered notetaking application, Talat, has been launched as a privacy focused alternative to popular tools like Granola, which has gained traction among tech founders and venture capitalists. Developed by Yorkshire based programmer Nick Payne, the Mac only application is designed to run entirely on a user’s device, eliminating the need for subscriptions or cloud based data storage. The app enters the market at a time when concerns around data privacy and recurring software costs continue to shape user preferences.
Payne said the idea for Talat emerged from his exploration of audio processing on Apple devices, particularly after experimenting with how existing tools capture and transcribe system audio. His research led to the creation of an open source audio library and later the discovery of new frameworks that support fully local artificial intelligence processing. This breakthrough made it possible to build a product where sensitive audio data and transcripts remain stored exclusively on the user’s computer, rather than external servers.
Built in collaboration with developer Mike Franklin, Talat offers real time transcription during meetings on platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. The application can identify speakers, generate summaries with key decisions and action points, and allow users to edit or organise transcripts. Unlike many competing tools, it operates as a lightweight one time purchase without requiring account creation or user analytics sharing, while still providing search functionality across notes and summaries.
Talat also gives users flexibility in how they deploy artificial intelligence models, supporting local processing as well as optional integration with external providers such as Ollama. The app is currently available to users with Apple silicon devices, starting at $49 during its pre release phase, with plans to increase the price upon full launch. Developers say the product will continue to evolve with additional integrations, while maintaining its core philosophy of user control, privacy, and a subscription free model.