C — Moderate risk signals Graded October 16, 2026Several concerns worth a closer look before you install.Based on public adoption and transparency signals as of October 16, 2026. Our opinion, not a code audit or security guarantee.
AI agent skill · Developer tools, Data & databases
natively-cluely-ai-assistant
Natively — Free open-source AI meeting assistant, interview copilot, and note taker. The best alternative to Cluely, Otter, Granola, Final Round AI, Fireflies, and Interview Coder. Real-time transcription, AI meeting notes, lecture recording, local RAG, BYOK, and stealth mode. Runs locally. No subscriptions. No data breaches.
Bottom line: Signal-based grade (3/7 points): well starred on GitHub, public source code. This reflects adoption and transparency, not a code audit.
- Popularity score
- 39/100
- Rank
- #346 of 500
- GitHub stars
- 3k
What it does
Natively is an open-source AI meeting assistant that provides real-time transcription, automated meeting notes, and interview support—all running locally on your machine. It offers features like lecture recording, local RAG (retrieval-augmented generation), and stealth mode, with no cloud dependencies or subscription fees.
Who it’s for
Engineering teams, hiring managers, and knowledge workers who want meeting intelligence without recurring costs or data privacy concerns. Best suited for organizations that can self-host and prefer local-first, air-gapped deployments.
Copy-paste setup
Check these steps against the project’s own instructions before running anything.
Verify against the repo README at https://github.com/Natively-AI-assistant/natively-cluely-ai-assistant (opens external site) for exact installation steps. Likely involves cloning the repository and running a local setup script; exact commands and any required API key configuration (BYOK) should be confirmed in the official documentation.
Risks
- Local model execution requires significant compute resources; misconfiguration could leave models or transcripts accessible over network
- BYOK (bring-your-own-key) model means API credentials are stored locally—improper key management or exfiltration could expose third-party accounts
- Audio transcription and RAG indexing on local hardware may create persistent artifacts; unclear retention/deletion policies for sensitive meeting data
- Nascent project (GitHub signals show early-stage adoption) means security hardening and access controls may not be production-ready
- No clear audit trail or encryption mechanism documented for stored transcripts; stealth mode effectiveness depends on proper configuration
How to stay secure
Least-privilege permissions
- Run Natively under a dedicated user account (separate from your main login) with only the folder permissions it needs—don't grant it admin rights or access to your entire computer
- Restrict API key access: Store third-party service credentials (like OpenAI or cloud provider keys) in a separate, protected file that only Natively can read; never share these keys or leave them visible in logs
- Limit who accesses meeting files: If running on a shared machine, use operating system file permissions to ensure only authorized people can view stored transcripts and notes
Network isolation
- Disable external network access if possible: Configure your firewall to block Natively from connecting to the internet unless absolutely required for API calls; disable cloud sync and auto-update features if available
- Use a private network only: Run Natively on machines connected only to your trusted internal network, never on public WiFi or internet-facing servers
- Verify "stealth mode" settings before sensitive meetings: Confirm that recording is disabled, transcription isn't being sent externally, and no data is being logged to cloud services
Monitoring
- Check disk usage and storage regularly: Growing transcript files may indicate data isn't being deleted as expected; manually verify old meeting files are removed after retention periods
- Review system logs for unexpected network activity: Look for Natively attempting to contact unknown IP addresses or servers, which could signal misconfiguration or a security issue
- Audit API key usage: If using external services (Slack, Google Meet, etc.), periodically check those accounts' activity logs to confirm only your intended meeting interactions are occurring
Red flags to watch for
- Unusual CPU or memory spikes: Could indicate the local AI model is running unexpectedly or a resource-intensive process has been hijacked
- Transcripts appearing in unexpected locations: If meeting notes show up outside your designated storage folder, data may be leaking or being copied without authorization
- Unrecognized network connections: If your firewall alerts you that Natively is trying to contact external servers you didn't authorize, disconnect immediately and investigate before using again
- Delayed or missing transcription during a meeting: May signal the system has crashed or is logging data elsewhere; stop the meeting and verify stealth mode is functioning correctly
Alternatives
- Otter.ai — Commercial SaaS with strong transcription but requires cloud upload
- Fireflies.io — Paid meeting bot with automatic recording and searchable archives
- Granola — AI note-taker focused on sales and customer calls
- Cluely — Interview-focused copilot with pre-interview prep and post-call summaries