Google quietly launched an AI dictation app that works offline

Update (April 7, 10:30 PM PT): The company has revised its app store listing, removing mentions of the Android app but indicating that an iOS keyboard is expected soon.

On Monday, Google discreetly unveiled a new offline-first dictation app named “Google AI Edge Eloquent” for iOS, challenging apps like Wispr Flow, SuperWhisper, Willow, and others.

The app is available for free download. After downloading its Gemma-based automatic speech recognition (ASR) models, users can start dictating. The app provides live transcription, and upon pausing, it automatically removes filler words like “um” and “ah,” refining the text.

Users can choose from options such as “Key points,” “Formal,” “Short,” and “Long” to reformat the text below the transcript.

The app offers an option to disable cloud mode for local-only processing. When cloud mode is active, the app utilizes cloud-based Gemini models for text refinement. Google AI Edge Eloquent can incorporate specific keywords, names, and jargon from a user’s Gmail account if desired. Users can also add custom words.

The app records the history of transcription sessions, allowing users to search through them. It displays words from the last session, the user’s words-per-minute rate, and the total word count spoken.

According to the App Store description, “Google AI Edge Eloquent is an advanced dictation app designed to bridge the gap between natural speech and professional, ready-to-use text. Unlike standard dictation software that transcribes stumbles and filler words verbatim, Eloquent uses AI to capture your intended meaning. It automatically removes ‘ums,’ ‘uhs,’ and mid-sentence self-corrections to produce clean, accurate prose.”

Currently, the app is exclusive to iOS, but its App Store description mentions an Android version. (We have contacted Google for further information and will update the story if we receive a response.)

The description suggests that Eloquent will offer “seamless Android integration,” allowing it to function as the default keyboard for comprehensive access across all text fields. Additionally, the app plans to incorporate a floating button feature similar to Wispr Flow’s on Android, facilitating easy transcription access from any location.

AI-driven transcription apps are increasingly popular as speech-to-text technology improves. With this experimental app, Google aims to participate in this trend. If successful, we might see enhanced transcription capabilities across Android platforms as well.