BEAM
Beam (getbeam.ai) is a native ChatGPT application designed for macOS users. Its purpose is to allow you to seamlessly invoke the ChatGPT assistant while working on your Mac, without interrupting your workflow. By pressing a hotkey, Beam activates ChatGPT in a floating window, enabling instant inquiry, summarization, translation, and text manipulation. It emphasizes low memory usage, fast response, privacy security, and local data management, without uploading your data to Beam's servers. Instead, you control and use your own OpenAI API Key. Beam also supports conversation in PDF files, role template settings, and selecting text directly from the screen to inquire.
Key Features
- Hotkey to instantly summon ChatGPT
- Select text to converse
- Converse within PDF files
- Template and role settings
- Privacy and system security design
Pros
- Native macOS application, not an Electron program, for better performance and smoothness
- Use hotkeys to invoke the conversation window without leaving the current application
- Supports selecting text to directly enter ChatGPT context for inquiry and output
- Emphasizes data privacy and security: Beam is sandboxed and does not access other system data; data is stored locally and not uploaded to Beam's servers
- Supports PDF file conversation function, allowing inquiry and summarization within PDFs
Cons
- Only supports macOS platform, no Windows or mobile version
- Requires an OpenAI API Key to use ChatGPT models
- Some features or advanced features may require payment or be available only in the premium version
- If the selected range is too large or exceeds the model token limit, it may not be possible to complete processing or summarization correctly
Use Cases
- Quickly query and supplement while writing/editing
- Summarize and understand while researching or reading
- Programming development and technical support
- Uninterrupted workflow
- Using ChatGPT multiple models and styles
Editor's Note
Overall, BEAM's biggest highlight is its native macOS application, which is not an Electron program, providing better performance and smoothness. It also allows you to invoke the conversation window using hotkeys without leaving the current application. Before using, note that it only supports the macOS platform and requires an OpenAI API Key to use ChatGPT models. It offers a free plan, allowing you to try it out before upgrading to a paid plan, providing good value. Overall, BEAM is suitable for users who need a Mac-specific AI solution, and we give it a rating of 4.3.
FAQ
What is BEAM?
Beam (getbeam.ai) is a native ChatGPT application designed for macOS users.
When is BEAM suitable for use?
Its purpose is to allow you to seamlessly invoke the ChatGPT assistant while working on your Mac, without interrupting your workflow.