Why we built a menu bar app, not a chatbot

Every AI startup is building a chat interface. Type a question, get an answer. We went the opposite direction — and there's a specific reason why.

The problem with chat interfaces

When you're in the middle of something — a quiz, an assignment, a timed exam — the last thing you want to do is open another app, type out a question, wait for a response, read through a paragraph of explanation, and then switch back to what you were doing.

That's 7 steps. It takes about 45 seconds. And it completely breaks your focus.

Our approach: fewer steps, less friction

SnapCue reduces that to 2 steps. Press a shortcut. Check your menu bar. That's it.

We didn't build a chat window because we don't think you should have to talk to your tools. The best tools are the ones you barely notice. They sit in the background, do their job, and get out of the way.

The menu bar is the perfect home

macOS menu bar apps have a long tradition of being small, focused utilities. Think of your Wi-Fi icon, battery indicator, or clock. You glance at them when you need them and ignore them the rest of the time.

That's exactly what SnapCue does. No dock icon. No main window. Just a small ghost icon in your menu bar that lights up when your answer is ready.

We wanted to build something you'd forget is running — until the exact moment you need it.

Why screenshots instead of typing?

Screenshots capture context that typing can't. A math problem with special notation, a diagram-based question, a multi-part prompt — you'd spend more time describing these to a chatbot than just screenshotting them.

Plus, screenshots are fast. ⌃⌥A, drag, done. No keyboard needed (well, except for the shortcut).