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Use AI Polish and app-aware modes

Updated · SwitchDesk build 217+
TL;DR

With “AI Polish” on, SwitchDesk adds punctuation, fixes grammar, drops filler and false starts, and turns spoken lists into real ones. Words that carry meaning stay. If a cleanup doesn’t read as a tidy copy of what you said, SwitchDesk pastes your words as they were. “App-aware modes” then adjust the formatting for where you’re typing: exact for Terminal, casual for Messages, lightly structured for Mail. Both switches are in Settings then Dictation.

What AI Polish does

You said: “we shipped version two point four point one and the file is called release underscore notes dot md”. It typed: “We shipped version 2.4.1, and the file is called release_notes.md.”. Fixes: TECHNICAL.

You said: “can you make a note for like you to remember this going forward”. It typed: “Can you make a note for you to remember this going forward?”. Fixes: FILLER.

You said: “we're gonna wanna ship tools like slack integration first”. It typed: “We're going to want to ship tools like Slack integration first.”. Fixes: SLANG.

Three examples: what you said, and what lands at your cursor.

It removes “um”, repeated words and abandoned sentences (“never mind, …” keeps only the restated version), writes technical strings the way they’re typed (“two point four point one” becomes 2.4.1) and turns slang such as “gonna” into “going to”.

AI Polish

Auto-punctuation, grammar fixes, bullet & numbered lists from spoken cues. Off → raw transcript with dictionary substitutions only.

The AI Polish switch in Settings → Dictation.

App-aware modes

The same sentence comes out differently depending on the app in front. The modes change formatting, never your words. Pick a tab to compare:

Try it

You said

“hey maya can you run npm run build on the one point zero point two branch before friday thanks”

Near-verbatim — keeps identifiers, casing, and commands exact; no number conversion or stray punctuation.

In Terminal

Hey Maya, can you run npm run build on the one point zero point two branch before Friday? Thanks
One dictation, three apps. Mode descriptions are the app’s own.

Each mode has its own switch under “App-aware modes”, with the apps it covers listed underneath. Apps not listed use your normal polish.

App-aware modes

Adjusts how Polish formats based on the app you’re dictating into — never your words. Apps not listed below use your normal polish.

Code & Terminal

Near-verbatim — keeps identifiers, casing, and commands exact; no number conversion or stray punctuation.

Terminal

Messaging

Casual and send-ready — no greetings or sign-offs.

Messages

Email

Light structure — greeting/sign-off only if you dictate one; no invented placeholders.

Mail
App-aware modes in Settings → Dictation.

Turn either one off

Switch off “AI Polish” in Settings then Dictation to get the raw transcript, with only your Dictionary’s replacements applied. Switch off “App-aware modes” (or a single mode) and every app gets your normal polish.

SwitchDesk is a Mac app

Send yourself the download link, then open it on your Mac.

switchdesk.org/download

Or scan it with your phone’s camera.