Frequently asked questions
What is Secretary?
Secretary is a local-first desktop app that pulls all your messages — WhatsApp, Gmail, Slack, Telegram, and LinkedIn — into one inbox and drafts replies that sound like you. It runs on your own device (Mac and Windows), with AI on-device by default.
Which apps can I connect?
WhatsApp, Gmail, Slack, Telegram, and LinkedIn, and also Claude Code and Codex sessions. More sources over time.
How do I connect Slack?
Here's a guide!
Is my data private?
Yes — Secretary is local-first. It's a desktop app with no server in the middle: your messages, accounts, and history live on your device, and the app communicates directly with the sources you setup, so there's no backend to breach. Your API keys and access tokens are encrypted using your operating system's keystore. AI runs on-device by default, and the cloud is opt-in, never required.
Do I need my own AI API key?
Not to start. By default Secretary runs a local model on-device, and voice dictation uses on-device Whisper — nothing leaves your machine and no key is required. If you'd rather use a frontier cloud model, you can bring your own Anthropic or Gemini key.
What does it cost, and how do I get access?
Secretary is pre-release software under active development — we're currently running a private beta group. The best way in is to join the waitlist. We haven't announced pricing for Secretary itself yet.
How do I get help?
There's a feedback button right inside the app. You can also send an email at help@mikohurme.com.