SpotAsk

What is SpotAsk ​

SpotAsk is a free, open-source macOS menu-bar AI assistant and query router built on a simple premise: "Ask first. Decide where it goes after."

Press one hotkey — ⌥ + Space by default — and a focused question window appears instantly over whatever you are doing. Write down your thought while it is fresh, then choose how to handle it:

• In-app quick answers: Get rapid streaming replies using your own configured AI model (BYOK).
• Smart & 1-click query routing (External Ask): Dispatch your query to web platforms (ChatGPT, Perplexity, Grok), desktop apps via URI schemes, or local CLI agents in Terminal — in 1 click or automatically with a decision model (such as jev), without consuming chat API tokens or saving history.

There is no account system, no telemetry, and nothing between you and your AI provider. When you close the window (Esc), SpotAsk is done and gone — leaving your workspace clean and uninterrupted.

Core workflows in action ​

1. Instant hotkey summoning ​

2. Inline actions on selected text ​

3. 1-click query routing to CLI agents & tools ​

Next steps ​

• Getting Started walks through installation and your first question.
• Explore SpotAsk is a map of what you can do with the app.
• Troubleshooting covers connection, model, permission, and shortcut problems.