FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about Orbit.
What is Orbit?
Orbit is a free AI agent for macOS that uses your computer for you. It lives in your menu bar, sees your screen, moves your cursor, clicks buttons, types text, browses the web, and creates documents — all powered by your existing ChatGPT subscription.
Do I need to know what Codex is?
No. Orbit is built on OpenAI's Codex under the hood, but you never need to interact with Codex directly. Think of Orbit as the friendly front door — you just talk to it and it handles the rest.
What can Orbit actually help with?
Controlling your Mac — clicking buttons, typing text, opening apps, and navigating menus. Browsing the web — researching, filling forms, completing multi-step tasks. Creating documents, presentations, spreadsheets, and PDFs. Learning unfamiliar software by pointing to controls and explaining interfaces. Basically anything you can do with a mouse, keyboard, and browser.
How does voice work?
Orbit supports two voice modes. Local Voice uses Apple's built-in speech engines — completely on-device, no data leaves your Mac. Cloud Voice uses OpenAI transcription and GPT TTS for speech — higher quality, but requires your own OpenAI API key. You can switch anytime.
What does it cost?
Orbit itself is free to download. It requires a ChatGPT subscription to power the AI. If you use Cloud Voice, that uses your own OpenAI API key with standard OpenAI pricing.
When does Orbit capture my screen?
Only when you explicitly activate it — by pressing the shortcut or clicking the menu bar icon. It captures only the current active display, uses it for that single interaction, then discards it. There is zero background recording.
Is my data private?
Orbit itself contains zero tracking SDKs, zero analytics, and zero crash reporters that phone home. Local Voice stays entirely on-device. With Cloud Voice, audio goes to OpenAI via your API key. Screen captures are transient and not stored.
What model does Orbit use?
By default, Orbit starts on gpt-5.4 with medium effort in fast mode, so the app stays responsive while keeping the model, effort, and speed settings truthful in the panel. The model can be changed from the Orbit panel if needed.
Can it control my computer?
Yes. Orbit can move your cursor, click buttons, type text, press keyboard shortcuts, navigate your browser, and open apps — all on your real desktop. You watch every action happen in real time and can interrupt anytime. Actions are driven by your voice commands, not autonomous.
Is it open source?
Yes. The main Orbit repository is public on GitHub, and signed macOS releases are published alongside the source.
Why isn't it on the Mac App Store?
Orbit requires Screen Recording and Accessibility permissions and runs a bundled local runtime — all of which conflict with App Store sandbox restrictions. Direct download ensures full functionality.
How do I update Orbit?
Download the latest PKG from the website for the simplest upgrade path. Your settings, API keys (stored in Keychain), and preferences persist across updates.
What's the difference between Orbit and Siri?
Siri answers questions. Orbit does things. It moves your cursor, clicks buttons, types text, browses the web, and creates documents — all on your actual desktop, in your actual apps. Think of it as the assistant Apple hasn't built yet.
Is it safe to let Orbit control my computer?
You watch everything happen in real time. Orbit only acts when you ask it to, shows you what it's doing as it does it, and you can interrupt any action instantly. Nothing happens in the background or without your voice command.