Core settings Setting Default Description Enable AI Formatting On Apply AI to format your dictation Smart Punctuation On Automatically add periods, commas, etc. Auto-Detect App On Detect which app you’re in for context Formatting Style Per mode Casual, Semi-Casual, Formal, or Custom — set per formatting mode
When AI formatting is off, you get raw transcription with minimal processing. This is useful if you want complete control over formatting.
Vision Setting Default Description Enable Vision Off Let Hermes see your screen for better context
What Vision does When enabled, Hermes takes a screenshot when you start dictating. This helps it understand:
Which app you’re really in (not just the frontmost window)
What content is on screen (for better context)
The type of text field you’re typing in
Privacy Vision is opt-in and disabled by default. Screenshots are analyzed instantly and immediately discarded. They are never stored or transmitted.
Local AI Setting Default Description Use Local AI Off Process text on your Mac instead of the cloud Local Model qwen-2.5-vl-7b The AI model to use locally
When to use Local AI Local AI is for users who want:
Maximum privacy (no data leaves your Mac)
Offline functionality
Independence from cloud services
Trade-offs Local AI Cloud AI More private Faster Works offline Better quality Uses more battery Requires internet Vision not available Vision available
Instructions Add global formatting rules that apply to all your dictation. Instructions is its own section in Hermes—open the app and go to Instructions to add your rules.
Example instructions Always expand contractions. Use British spelling. Never use exclamation marks. Always use the Oxford comma.
These instructions are applied after mode-specific rules.
Usage limits Metric Free Plan Paid Plans AI Formatting Limited daily words Unlimited Vision Not available Available
Formatting Modes Customize formatting and instructions per app.
AI Formatting Feature How AI formatting works.
Privacy Settings Control data and privacy options.
