Features

Clarissa for Apple is designed to take full advantage of the platform, integrating deeply with iOS and macOS capabilities while maintaining the powerful AI assistant features you expect.

On-Device AI with Apple Foundation Models

Clarissa uses Apple's Foundation Models framework for completely private, on-device AI:

  • Privacy-first — All processing happens on your device
  • No internet required — Works offline after initial setup
  • Native tool calling — Tools execute through Apple's native API
  • Fast responses — Optimized for Apple Silicon performance

The app automatically prewarms the AI model at launch for faster first responses.

Voice Input

Speak naturally to Clarissa using built-in speech recognition:

  • Tap the microphone button to start dictation
  • Speak your prompt naturally
  • Tap again to stop and send

Voice input uses Apple's on-device speech recognition for privacy. Grant microphone permission when prompted for the best experience.

Siri Shortcuts Integration

Clarissa exposes App Intents for use with Siri and the Shortcuts app:

"Ask Clarissa"

Invoke Clarissa with your voice:

  • "Hey Siri, ask Clarissa how to center a div"
  • "Hey Siri, talk to Clarissa"

"New Conversation"

Start fresh:

  • "Hey Siri, start new conversation with Clarissa"
  • "Hey Siri, reset Clarissa"

Custom Shortcuts

Build your own automations in the Shortcuts app. Chain Clarissa with other actions to create powerful workflows.

Native Tools

The Apple version includes tools deeply integrated with iOS and macOS frameworks:

  • Calendar — Create, list, and search calendar events (EventKit)
  • Contacts — Search and view contact information
  • Reminders — Create, list, and complete reminders (EventKit)
  • Weather — Current conditions and 5-day forecast (WeatherKit)
  • Location — Get current position with reverse geocoding (CoreLocation)
  • Web Fetch — Retrieve and parse web content
  • Calculator — Perform mathematical calculations
  • Remember — Store information for future conversations
  • Image Analysis — OCR, object detection, and face detection (Vision)
  • PDF Analysis — Text extraction and OCR for scanned documents (PDFKit + Vision)

Note: Apple Foundation Models work best with 4 or fewer tools active per session. Configure which tools are enabled in Settings to optimize for your workflow.

Image and Document Analysis

Clarissa can analyze images and PDF documents using Apple's Vision framework:

  • Text Recognition (OCR) — Extract text from photos, screenshots, and scanned documents
  • Image Classification — Identify objects, scenes, and content in photos
  • Face Detection — Detect and count faces in images
  • Document Detection — Identify documents in photos for enhanced text extraction
  • PDF Text Extraction — Extract text from PDF files, including OCR for scanned pages

To use image analysis, tap the attachment button to select an image or PDF from your photo library. Clarissa will automatically analyze the content and include it in the conversation.

Session Management

Conversations are automatically saved and organized:

  • Auto-save — Never lose a conversation
  • Title generation — AI-generated titles for easy browsing
  • History sidebar — Quick access to past conversations
  • Resume anytime — Pick up where you left off

Long-Term Memory

Clarissa remembers important information across conversations:

  • Facts you share are stored persistently
  • Context carries forward to future sessions
  • Manage memories in Settings

Streaming Responses

Watch responses appear in real-time as the AI generates them. Tool executions are displayed inline so you can see exactly what Clarissa is doing.

Liquid Glass Design

The app embraces Apple's latest design language:

  • Translucent materials — Beautiful glass effects throughout
  • Adaptive layout — Optimized for iPhone, iPad, and Mac
  • Dark mode — Full support for system appearance
  • Dynamic Type — Respects your text size preferences

macOS Features

On macOS, Clarissa includes additional platform-specific features:

  • Menu bar commands — File and Edit menus with keyboard shortcuts
  • Settings window — Standard macOS preferences (⌘,)
  • Keyboard shortcuts — ⌘N for new conversation, ⇧⌘⌫ to clear
  • Resizable window — Works at any size

Next Steps