Char is an open-source AI notepad for your meetings. Use any model — on-device or cloud. Keep your data as files on your disk. No vendor lock-in, no subscription treadmill.

The distinction matters. A note-taker is passive — a bot that sits in your meeting, records everything, and hands you a summary after it's over. A notepad is something you use. You're present, you're engaged, and the AI works alongside you in real time. We believe in the power of notetaking, not notetakers. Read [our manifesto](/#manifesto/) for the full picture.

## Beyond the notepad

Notetaking reduces cognitive load. We're extending that idea: what other cognitive burdens can we offload? Today it's meeting notes. Tomorrow, email, calendar, and broader workflow — an AI-native executive assistant that actually works for you.

Char combines two capabilities: **AI notepad** (the foundation — capturing and understanding meetings while you're in them) and **AI assistant** (the superpower — taking action on that understanding). Learn more in [Product Philosophy](/content/company-handbook/about/product-philosophy/index.html).

## Why this matters

Most AI tools force you into their ecosystem, their models, their rules. We think there's a better path: open source, local-first, file-based. Your notes should survive us. See [What We Believe](/content/company-handbook/about/what-we-believe/index.html) for the convictions behind these choices.