Cloud AI in LittleDraft
Cloud AI sends the selected message and the permitted context needed for the operation through LittleDraft’s service to its AI provider. It can use derived writing-style hints and selected reference excerpts. Local text recognition and style sampling remain separate preparation steps; doing those locally does not mean a later cloud drafting request is local.
You do not need a separate OpenAI account or your own API key for the managed LittleDraft service. Usage is included within the trial or paid plan’s allowances. Available service capacity, rate limits, and safety checks still apply.
When to use each mode
- Cloud AI: For connected drafting, supported multilingual workflows, and Little Engine online research, subject to the available plan and credits.
- Pro Private Mode: For supported English/German drafting on a compatible Mac using Apple’s local model, including offline operation after setup.
Choose the mode in AI Processing. In the 0.20.57 release, a separately approved Little Engine research request can use online AI while Private Mode remains selected; the exception applies only to that request. Private Mode does not upload a failed local request as an automatic fallback. If you change to Cloud AI, subsequent permitted requests use cloud processing.
A cloud request step by step
- LittleDraft obtains the selected message or composer text.
- It prepares your direction, current tone/length settings, enabled account style, and relevant authorized reference excerpts.
- The service checks account access and the appropriate allowance.
- The configured cloud model generates proposed wording; cloud generation can return up to two suggestions in one request.
- The result is checked and returned for review or verified insertion into Mail.
A generic drafting request does not mean LittleDraft has independently searched the web, inspected your entire mailbox, or opened every Library file. Use the dedicated features and inspect context when factual grounding matters.
Reply credits
One successful ordinary paid cloud generation uses one reply credit, even if two suggestions are returned. Choosing an existing suggestion costs no additional credit. Regeneration, refinement, and translation can start another request. Failed generations do not consume a completed reply credit. Local OCR, imports, and style learning do not use reply or research credits.
A mode-choice example
Local task: Draft an English acknowledgement from a downloaded email while offline: use an activated Pro Private Mode.
Connected task: Research the current public compatibility of a product and include sources: use Little Engine in Cloud AI, then review the cited pages before sending.
Different language: If Private Mode reports an unsupported language, either choose an available local language or deliberately change to Cloud AI. Website language selection does not change that constraint.
Privacy choices and limits
Inspect selected context, account assignments, historical-example sharing, and automation before generating. The app’s processing policy, provider terms, and website legal notices describe distinct data flows; do not assume zero retention, end-to-end encryption of a provider request, or “nothing ever leaves the Mac” for Cloud AI.
Read AI transparency and the privacy policy for the published disclosures.
Research approval in the 0.20.57 release
The release separates ordinary local drafting from a deliberate online research request. If you invoke Little Engine while Private AI is selected, read the disclosure before continuing. It explains that the email/conversation, current directions, selected reference or captured-text excerpts, and enabled writing profile/examples may be sent through LittleDraft to OpenAI. A redacted research query is used for web search. This does not upload raw screenshots, original files, or the entire Library.
Choose Continue online only when you want that request to proceed. Cancel starts no research request. Approval is not remembered for later requests, and completing or failing the request does not change the selected Private Mode or move later ordinary replies to Cloud AI. Online research still needs internet, account access, and the applicable research allowance.