Cai
Free, open-source AI action layer for macOS that runs locally with agent-approved actions.
What is Cai?
Cai is a Code Generation tool. Free, open-source AI action layer for macOS that runs locally with agent-approved actions. It is available on macOS. It is aimed at developers, productivity enthusiasts and macos users.
Cai is a free, open-source AI action layer for macOS that allows users to select any content, press ⌥C, and execute AI actions, scripts, and chains. It runs locally, with actions authored by an agent and approved by the user. It supports a range of AI-driven tasks and integrations.
Built for developers, productivity enthusiasts, macos users and open source contributors.
Key capabilities
Features
Selection-triggered AI Actions
Select text, press ⌥C, and pick an action.
Agent-authored Actions
Actions written by Claude Code.
Cursor or Codex Write Actions
Create GitHub Issues
Generate GitHub issues from selected text or image.
Image to Text OCR
Custom Actions
Create AI prompts and terminal/shell scripts.
URL Shortcuts
Custom Destinations
Send results to webhooks or deeplinks.
AppleScript and Shell Commands
Apple Intelligence Support
Supports Apple Intelligence on macOS 26+.
Community Extensions
Browse and install shared actions via YAML.
LM Studio Integration
Use cases
- Create GitHub issues from any selected text or image
- Run AI prompts and shell scripts by selecting text and pressing ⌥C
- Send results to webhooks or deeplinks using custom destinations
- Use AppleScript and shell commands for automation tasks
- Browse and install community extensions for additional actions
- Integrate with LM Studio for local model execution
Who it's for
Pros & cons
Pros
- Public API available
- Free and open-source
- Runs locally with agent-approved actions
- Supports Apple Intelligence on macOS 26+
- Integrates with LM Studio and Ollama
Cons
No documented limitations yet.
AI models
- Qwen 2.5
Developer & API
Public API available
Open source· MIT· 6 stars· 2 forks
Security & compliance
- GDPR
As stated on Cai's website — not independently verified by AiByts.
FAQ
What is Cai?
Cai is a Code Generation tool. Free, open-source AI action layer for macOS that runs locally with agent-approved actions. Cai is a free, open-source AI action layer for macOS that allows users to select any content, press ⌥C, and execute AI actions, scripts, and chains. It runs locally, with actions authored by an agent and approved by the user. It supports a range of AI-driven tasks and integrations.
Does Cai have an API?
Yes, Cai offers a public API for building custom integrations.
What platforms does Cai support?
Cai is available on macOS.
Who should use Cai?
Cai is built for developers, productivity enthusiasts, macos users and open source contributors. Common uses: create GitHub issues from any selected text or image, run AI prompts and shell scripts by selecting text and pressing ⌥C, send results to webhooks or deeplinks using custom destinations and use AppleScript and shell commands for automation tasks.
What does Cai integrate with?
Cai integrates with Slack, Notion, GitHub, Anthropic and Obsidian.
Is Cai open source?
Yes, Cai is open source under the MIT license.
What are the best alternatives to Cai?
Similar tools on AiByts include Buildermark, GitHub Copilot, CodeHealth MCP Server by CodeScene, Amazon Q Developer CLI and Blackbox AI.
Details are compiled from Cai's website and public sources, last verified Oct 5, 2026. Features and pricing change — confirm on the official site before you buy.
Try Cai
Visit the official website
Tags
- AI Action Layer
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