Local AI Dictation Workflow — JesType + Local LLMs Guide (2026)
Combine JesType for speech-to-text with Ollama or LM Studio for text processing. A fully local AI workflow where nothing ever leaves your device.
How can I build a fully local AI dictation workflow?
A fully local AI dictation workflow combines two components: a local speech-to-text app like JesType that converts your voice to text on your device, and a local large language model runner like Ollama or LM Studio that processes, edits, or summarizes that text. Both components run entirely on your machine with zero cloud dependency, giving you complete privacy and offline capability.
The Fully Local AI Stack
The local AI dictation stack has two layers. The first layer is speech-to-text: JesType runs Parakeet or Moonshine models on your device to convert your voice into text. The second layer is text processing: a local LLM like Llama 3 or Mistral running through Ollama or LM Studio handles grammar correction, summarization, translation, or rewriting.
Together, these two layers give you the same capabilities as cloud-based AI writing assistants — but with zero data leaving your machine. No subscriptions, no API keys, no internet required after the initial download.
Why Go Fully Local?
Privacy: Your voice, your text, and your AI processing never leave your device. No third-party servers see your data. This matters for medical professionals, lawyers, journalists, and anyone handling sensitive information.
No subscriptions: Cloud-based AI writing tools charge monthly fees that add up quickly. JesType is a one-time purchase of €14.95, and Ollama and LM Studio are free. Your total cost is €14.95, forever.
Works offline: Once everything is downloaded, your entire workflow functions without an internet connection. Dictate and process text on a plane, in a rural area, or during an internet outage.
Data sovereignty: You own your data completely. No terms of service allow a company to train their AI on your dictation. No data retention policies apply because no data is sent anywhere.
Setting Up JesType
JesType is the speech-to-text layer of your local AI workflow. Setting it up takes about two minutes.
- Download JesType from jestype.com/download for macOS or Windows.
- Install and launch the app. On macOS, drag it to Applications. On Windows, run the installer.
- Choose your speech model. Parakeet is recommended for the best accuracy and supports 25 languages. Moonshine is ultra-fast for accented English.
- Configure your shortcut. The default is hold-to-record: hold the shortcut key, speak, release to transcribe and paste.
- Start dictating. JesType works system-wide in any application — your text editor, email client, browser, or any other app.
Pairing with Ollama
Ollama is a free, open-source tool that runs large language models locally on your computer. It provides a simple command-line interface and a local API that other applications can connect to. Ollama is the most popular way to run local LLMs on macOS and Linux.
To install Ollama, visit ollama.com and download the installer for your platform. Once installed, you can pull models with a single command. For example, running ollama pull llama3 downloads the Llama 3 8B model.
Recommended models for text processing alongside JesType dictation include Llama 3 for general-purpose editing, Mistral for fast multilingual tasks, and Phi-3 for lightweight grammar correction on older hardware.
Pairing with LM Studio
LM Studio is a desktop application with a graphical interface for discovering, downloading, and running local LLMs. It is available for macOS, Windows, and Linux. LM Studio is ideal for users who prefer a visual interface over command-line tools.
LM Studio includes a built-in model browser where you can search and download models from Hugging Face. It also provides a chat interface for testing models and a local API server that is compatible with the OpenAI API format.
The workflow is simple: dictate with JesType, copy the transcribed text, and paste it into LM Studio for processing. Or use LM Studio's local API to build automated workflows that pipe JesType output directly into your chosen model.
Recommended Local Models
The best local LLM for your workflow depends on your hardware and use case. Here are the most popular models for text processing in a local AI dictation workflow.
| Model | Download Size | RAM Required | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Llama 3 8B | 4.7 GB | 8 GB | General text processing, summarization, grammar correction |
| Llama 3 70B | 40 GB | 48 GB | Complex writing tasks, translation, detailed analysis |
| Mistral 7B | 4.1 GB | 8 GB | Fast text editing, multilingual tasks, concise rewriting |
| Phi-3 Mini | 2.3 GB | 4 GB | Lightweight tasks, older hardware, quick grammar fixes |
| Gemma 2 9B | 5.4 GB | 10 GB | Summarization, content restructuring, email drafting |
| Qwen 2.5 7B | 4.4 GB | 8 GB | Multilingual writing, Chinese/English translation |
The Privacy Guarantee
With JesType for dictation and Ollama or LM Studio for text processing, nothing leaves your machine at any point in the workflow. Your voice is processed locally by JesType. Your text is processed locally by your chosen LLM. No internet connection is needed. No data is sent to any server.
This is the strongest privacy guarantee available for AI-assisted writing. Cloud-based alternatives like Wispr Flow, Otter.ai, or ChatGPT all require sending your data to external servers. A fully local workflow eliminates this entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a powerful computer for a local AI dictation workflow?
JesType itself runs well on any modern Mac (Apple Silicon) or Windows PC. For the local LLM component, a machine with at least 8 GB of RAM can run smaller models like Phi-3 or Mistral 7B. For larger models like Llama 3 70B, you need 48 GB or more of RAM.
Is the transcription quality as good as cloud-based services?
Yes. JesType uses modern local models like NVIDIA Parakeet that often exceed cloud accuracy. The difference is that everything runs on your device instead of a remote server.
Can I use this workflow without the LLM part?
Absolutely. JesType works perfectly as a standalone dictation app. The local LLM integration is entirely optional. Many users prefer pure dictation without any AI editing for maximum accuracy and simplicity.
Does this workflow work completely offline?
Yes. Once you have downloaded JesType, your speech-to-text model, and your local LLM model, the entire workflow runs without any internet connection. You can dictate and process text on an airplane, in a cabin, or anywhere else.
Start Your Local AI Dictation Workflow
JesType is the speech-to-text foundation for your fully local AI workflow. One-time payment of €14.95. Pair it with free tools like Ollama for a complete private setup.
Download JesType