Assistant Mode
Assistant Mode transforms SlasshyWispr from a simple transcription tool into an intelligent AI companion that can answer questions, rewrite text, and provide context-aware responses with natural voice playback.Dictation vs Assistant Mode
Understanding the difference between these two modes is key to using SlasshyWispr effectively:- Voice Dictation
- Assistant Mode
Voice Dictation converts speech to text.
- Transcribes your words verbatim
- No AI processing or interpretation
- Outputs text to clipboard or auto-paste
- Faster and more predictable
- Works entirely offline with local STT models
Assistant Mode uses the full pipeline: STT → AI → TTS, while dictation only uses STT.
Wake Word Activation
Wake words let you trigger assistant mode naturally by speaking a custom phrase:How Wake Words Work
- Enable wake word detection in Settings > General
- Configure your assistant’s name (default:
"Lily") - Start your speech with the wake phrase (e.g., “Hey Lily…”)
- SlasshyWispr detects the wake word and enters assistant mode
- Your query is processed and answered with AI
Wake Word Configuration
Wake Word Examples
| Wake Phrase | Assistant Name | Result |
|---|---|---|
| ”Hey Lily, what’s the weather?” | Lily | Triggers assistant mode, asks about weather |
| ”Jarvis, summarize this paragraph” | Jarvis | Assistant mode with selection rewrite |
| ”Computer, set a reminder” | Computer | Assistant processes reminder request |
Context Awareness Feature
Context awareness allows the assistant to see and work with text you’ve selected:How Context Awareness Works
- Select text in any application
- Activate assistant mode with hotkey or wake word
- SlasshyWispr captures the selected text as context
- Your spoken command is combined with the selection
- AI generates a response based on both inputs
Context-Aware Use Cases
- Rewrite
- Summarize
- Translate
- Explain
Rewrite selected text with style instructions:
- Select a paragraph in your document
- Say: “Rewrite this to be more professional”
- AI rewrites the selection with the requested tone
- Replacement text is returned
Enable
contextAwareness in settings to use this feature.Selection Rewriting
Selection rewriting is a powerful context-aware feature for text transformation:Selection Rewrite Workflow
Rewrite Commands
| Command | Effect |
|---|---|
| ”Make this more concise” | Reduces word count while preserving meaning |
| ”Make this professional” | Adjusts tone for business communication |
| ”Fix grammar” | Corrects grammatical errors |
| ”Make this casual” | Relaxes formal language |
| ”Expand on this” | Adds detail and elaboration |
Rewrite results respect your configured
styleProfile setting: adaptive, professional, casual, concise, or developer.Response Playback
Assistant responses are played back using text-to-speech (TTS) for a natural conversational experience:TTS Pipeline
TTS Features
- Automatic Playback - Responses are spoken aloud immediately
- High-Quality Voices - Piper (default) or Coqui TTS engines
- Speed Control - Adjust playback speed (0.5x to 2.0x)
- Quality Modes - Choose between fast, balanced, or high quality
- Emotion Control - Select voice tone: neutral, calm, happy, excited, etc.
- Piper TTS
- Coqui TTS
Piper is the default TTS engine (zero-Python mode).
- Fast, lightweight, and reliable
- No Python dependencies required
- Multiple quality and emotion settings
- Default speed: 1.08x
Response Latency
Assistant mode tracks latency for each pipeline stage:Command Hotkey
Quickly activate assistant mode without wake words:- Press
Ctrl+Shift+Spaceto force assistant mode - Bypasses wake word detection
- Useful for quick queries without saying “Hey [Name]”
Style Profiles
Customize how the assistant responds with style profiles:| Profile | Response Style |
|---|---|
| Adaptive | Matches your input tone and context |
| Professional | Formal, business-appropriate language |
| Casual | Friendly, conversational tone |
| Concise | Brief, to-the-point responses |
| Developer | Technical, code-focused answers |
styleProfile.
Best Practices
- Use Wake Words Naturally - Speak your assistant’s name clearly at the start
- Enable Context Awareness - For selection rewriting and context-aware responses
- Choose the Right Style - Match your style profile to your workflow
- Monitor Latency - Check pipeline timings to optimize online/offline settings
- Customize TTS - Adjust speed and emotion for comfortable listening
Related Features
- Voice Dictation - Simple speech-to-text transcription
- Runtime Modes - Configure online/offline AI processing
- Clipboard Workflow - How responses are delivered