Show HN: Screen memory without screenshots, just text to Markdown (github.com)

A new macOS menu bar app called Ambient Context has been developed to help users keep a text-based record of their work sessions, enhancing productivity without capturing screenshots or videos. Instead, the app utilizes macOS's accessibility features to read text from the focused window every few seconds, compiling it into a plain Markdown file that remains local to the user's machine. This tool allows users to query their work history, generate memory for their projects, and automate tasks, all while ensuring complete privacy—as no data is sent to external servers or third-parties. The significance of Ambient Context lies in its innovative approach to leveraging text reading for personal memory management in AI applications. It redacts sensitive information like passwords and automatically filters out irrelevant interface junk, creating a clean dataset for language models (LLMs) to utilize. Users can build the app themselves from source code, promoting a DIY ethos and encouraging community feedback on app performance across different applications. With its focus on user privacy and simplicity, Ambient Context could pave the way for more personalized AI integrations in everyday workflows.