Technical Details
Understand the technology behind ScreenMates's AI processing
Table of Contents
How ScreenMates Works
ScreenMates brings powerful AI directly to your Mac. Take a screenshot, ask any question, and get instant insights - all while keeping your data completely private.
🎯 It's That Simple
- Always Ready: Lives in your menu bar, ready when you need it
- Smart Analysis: Understands text, images, and context like a human
- Natural Conversation: Ask follow-up questions and get detailed responses
- 100% Private: Everything stays on your Mac
Designed for Mac Users
ScreenMates feels like it belongs on your Mac because it was built specifically for macOS:
- Native Experience: Beautiful, fast, and intuitive interface
- Perfect Integration: Works seamlessly with macOS screenshots
- Optimized Performance: Takes full advantage of your Apple Silicon Mac
- Zero Dependencies: No internet required after setup
Advanced AI Technology
ScreenMates uses cutting-edge AI that runs entirely on your Mac. No cloud required, no waiting, no privacy concerns - just instant, intelligent analysis of anything on your screen.
🚀 Why You'll Love It
- Lightning Fast: Results appear instantly
- Always Private: Your screenshots never leave your device
- No Limits: Use it as much as you want
- Works Offline: Perfect for travel or sensitive work
Smart Vision AI
ScreenMates doesn't just read text - it understands what it's looking at. Charts, diagrams, code, documents, or websites - it gets the context and meaning.
- Sees Everything: Text, images, layouts, and relationships
- Understands Context: Knows what's important and why
- Speaks Your Language: Natural conversation, not robot responses
- Gets Better: Regular model updates improve accuracy
Built for Apple Silicon
ScreenMates is designed exclusively for M-series Macs, delivering incredible performance that's only possible on Apple's revolutionary chips.
🧠 Apple Silicon Advantage
- Blazing Fast: AI processing that feels magical
- Ultra Efficient: Great performance without draining your battery
- Native Power: Designed specifically for your Mac's architecture
- Future Ready: Optimized for M1, M2, M3, and M4 chips
Performance You Can Feel
Experience AI that's fast enough to change how you work:
- Instant Analysis: Screenshots processed in seconds
- Smooth Conversations: No lag, no waiting
- Silent Operation: Works hard without slowing down your Mac
- Smart Scaling: Automatically adapts to your Mac's power
⚡ M-Series Mac Required
ScreenMates needs an Apple Silicon Mac (M1, M2, M3, or M4) to work its magic. Intel Macs simply don't have the specialized hardware for this kind of AI performance.
Your Privacy Matters
ScreenMates is built with privacy as the foundation. Your screenshots, conversations, and data stay exactly where they belong - on your Mac.
Complete Privacy Protection
- Never Leaves Your Mac: All processing happens locally
- No Data Collection: We literally can't see your screenshots
- Memory Only: Screenshots processed and immediately forgotten
- Minimal Access: Only asks for what it absolutely needs
🔒 Zero Data Collection
ScreenMates processes your screenshots in memory and discards them immediately. Nothing is stored, nothing is transmitted, nothing is saved.
What Permissions We Need
| Permission | Why We Need It |
|---|---|
| Screen Recording | To see your screenshots for analysis |
| Internet Access | Only for downloading AI models (one time) |
| Accessibility (Optional) | For global keyboard shortcuts |
What You Need
ScreenMates works great on any modern Apple Silicon Mac. If you bought your Mac in the last few years, you're all set!
💻 Quick Requirements
- Mac: Any Apple Silicon Mac (M1, M2, M3, or M4)
- macOS: Sonoma (14.0) or newer
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Space: 2 GB for the app and AI models
Best Experience
For the fastest AI processing and largest models:
- Newer is Better: M3 and M4 Macs are blazing fast
- More Memory: 32 GB RAM lets you use bigger AI models
- Fast Internet: For quicker initial setup (models download once)
Good to Know: After the initial setup, ScreenMates works completely offline. No internet required for daily use!
Fast & Efficient
ScreenMates is built to be lightning fast while being gentle on your Mac's battery and performance. It works hard when you need it, then gets out of the way.
📊 What to Expect
- Documents: Full page analysis in seconds
- Screenshots: Instant understanding of any image
- Code & Charts: Smart recognition and explanation
- Conversations: Real-time responses that feel natural
Plays Nice with Your Mac
ScreenMates is designed to be a perfect Mac citizen:
- Silent When Idle: Uses almost no resources when you're not using it
- Smart Performance: Automatically adjusts to your Mac's capabilities
- Cool Operation: Won't make your Mac hot or noisy
- Battery Friendly: Optimized for all-day use on laptops
🔄 Always Getting Better
ScreenMates gets smarter and faster with regular updates delivered automatically through the Mac App Store. Your investment keeps improving over time.