Google has introduced a new macOS application called Google AI Edge Foresight for capturing meeting notes that runs its models entirely on-device and can operate offline. The company previously released an experimental dictation app in April; this new tool positions itself as a competitor to existing AI note-takers such as Granola.
How it works and the underlying technology
The app is optimized for Apple Silicon and, according to Google's FAQ, can function completely offline. On-device processing uses the EmbeddingGemma 2 model, which has 740 million parameters, and the app can capture meeting notes from multiple apps as well as from in-person meetings.
Interface and features
Google AI Edge Foresight offers a split-screen view similar to Granola: one pane is for shorthand or manual notes while the other shows AI-generated, editable summaries. Users can take manual notes while the app transcribes the meeting, view the meeting transcript, or ask the Gemma 4–powered assistant questions during the session.
Knowledge base and document support
Users may upload documents to build a personal knowledge base. Supported formats include PDFs, Google Docs, Microsoft Office files, plain text, Markdown, and web bookmarks. Using the uploaded documents together with meeting notes, the app can provide real-time answers if a discussion touches on information contained in the knowledge base.
Market context
Although Google’s earlier April dictation app was experimental and did not become mainstream, this meeting note-taker highlights the capabilities of the Gemma family of offline models. Google may still choose to release a consumer version that integrates across video-calling apps via its Gemini apps and uses cloud models.
The meeting note-taking sector is crowded: in recent months, dictation company Wispr and scheduling company Calendly have released their own note-takers, and productivity startup Superhuman (formerly Grammarly) acquired YC-backed notetaker Fathom last month.
Why this matters
On-device, offline note-taking can be significant for privacy and data security, particularly for sensitive business meetings. Offline capability and Apple Silicon optimization also allow users to work with meeting notes while traveling or without internet access, supporting editing and search in environments with limited connectivity.
The launch of Google AI Edge Foresight underscores ongoing investment from both large tech firms and startups in AI-based meeting productivity tools, suggesting continued rapid development in this space.
