Short answer: on macOS only, open Messages, click the compose field at the bottom of a thread, press ⌃+⌥+R, speak, press again. AICHE inserts into the compose field. Press Return to send, or edit first. AICHE does not send messages, add Tapbacks, or attach photos.
This page is Messages.app on Mac, not the iPhone Messages app. AICHE's global hotkey runs on the Mac where AICHE is installed.
Messages surfaces that matter
| Surface | What it is |
|---|---|
| Compose field | Bottom text box where you type before Send |
| iMessage (blue bubble) | Apple-to-Apple chat when both sides use iMessage |
| SMS / MMS (green bubble) | Text to Android or when iMessage is unavailable; on Mac, often synced from iPhone via Text Message Forwarding |
| Group chat | Named thread with multiple participants; same compose field |
| Tapback | Reaction (thumbs up, heart, etc.) on a bubble; no typing required |
AICHE only fills the compose field. Tapbacks, stickers, Memoji, and voice notes are native Messages actions, not AICHE.
How it works
- Open Messages on Mac (Dock or Spotlight).
- Select a thread or click New Message (compose sheet).
- Click the compose field (placeholder: "iMessage" or "Text Message").
- Press ⌃+⌥+R once to start recording (toggle).
- Speak the full message, including names and times you would normally skip when typing.
- Press ⌃+⌥+R again. AICHE transcribes and inserts at the caret.
- Review, then Return to send or click Send.
SMS relay note: If green-bubble SMS appears on your Mac, your iPhone is usually relaying texts through Apple's continuity features. AICHE still only inserts text on the Mac; it does not change how Apple routes the message.
When voice beats typing here
Long explanations. Partner asks about dinner plans, hotel options, or a family schedule. Speaking a complete answer takes seconds; typing the same detail often gets trimmed.
Group chat logistics. Trip dates, who's driving, what to bring. One dictated paragraph beats five short typed messages.
Interrupt replies while working. Notification appears during code or writing: focus compose field, hotkey, ten-second reply, send, return to work.
Messages you keep avoiding. The thread with the unread badge because the reply needs real sentences. Speaking lowers the activation energy.
When not to use AICHE
- Tapback only. React on the bubble; faster than any dictation.
- iPhone-only texting. Use the AICHE mobile app for voice capture elsewhere; this workflow is Mac Messages + desktop hotkey.
- Secrets. Do not dictate passwords, recovery codes, or medical details you would not say aloud in the room.
macOS limitation (explicit)
There is no AICHE global hotkey inside iPhone Messages. On iPhone, use the AICHE app or widget to capture text, then paste into Messages, or use Apple's built-in dictation on the iOS keyboard. This page documents Mac Messages + AICHE desktop.
Custom vocabulary
Add contact names, place names, and inside jokes to Custom Vocabulary so "Osteria on 4th" and family names land correctly in the compose field.
FAQ
Q: Group chats?
A: Yes. Same compose field at the bottom of the thread.
Q: Does AICHE read my chat history?
A: No. AICHE inserts text at the caret. It does not scrape the thread or monitor Messages.
Q: Audio retention?
A: Streamed for transcription, discarded immediately after processing, within 1 second. See privacy policy.
Result: Mac Messages stops being a typing tax for the replies that need full sentences.
Try it now: open the thread you have been putting off, focus the compose field, dictate the reply, send.