Braina

Braina is a virtual assistant and speech-to-text dictation application for Microsoft Windows developed by Brainasoft. Braina uses natural language interface, speech synthesis, and speech recognition technology to interact with its users and allows them to use natural language sentences to perform various tasks on a computer in most languages of the world. The name Braina is a short form of “Brain Artificial”.

Braina is marketed as a Microsoft Copilot alternative. It provides a voice interface for several large language models, including GPT-3.5, GPT-4 Omni, Gemini 1.5 Pro, Anthropic's Claude Sonnet/Opus, Meta's Llama 3, Mistral Small/Large etc., while attempting to improve data privacy. Braina also allows responses from its in-house large language models like Braina Swift and Braina Pinnacle. It has an "Artificial Brain" feature that provides persistent memory support for supported LLMs.

Features
Braina provides a single window environment to control computer and carry out various tasks. Braina can take commands inputted through typing or speech recognition. Braina adapts to user behavior over time and better anticipate needs.

Speech to text dictation
Braina Pro can type the spoken words into the active window at the location of the cursor. Braina supports around 100 languages for speech to text dictation. It is able to isolate the recognition of a user's voice from any disturbing environmental factors, such as background noise, other human voices, or external devices. Braina can also be used to dictate legal, medical and scientific jargons. Users can also teach Braina uncommon names and vocabulary. Users can edit or correct dictated text without using a keyboard or mouse by giving built-in voice commands.

Text to speech
Braina can read selected text or e-books.

Custom commands & automation
Braina can automate computer tasks. It lets users create custom voice commands to perform tasks like opening files, programs or websites, check email, perform a keyboard or mouse macro etc.

Transcription
The software can transcribe audio and video media file formats like wav, mp3, mp4 etc. to text.

Reminders & scheduled tasks
Users can set an alarm, reminder or schedule commands with the help of Braina.

Generate images from text
Brainasoft states that Braina can generate images from text using text to image models like Stable Diffusion, Dall-E etc.

Miscellaneous
Braina can find information on web, search files, search and play music, perform mathematics, and control open windows or programs.

Platforms
In addition to the desktop version for Windows operating systems, Braina is also available for the iOS and Android operating systems.

The mobile version of Braina has a feature allowing remote management of a Windows PC connected via Wi-Fi.

Distributions
Braina is distributed in multiple modes. These include Braina Lite, a freeware version with limitations, and premium versions Braina Pro, Pro Plus, and Pro Ultra.

Some additional features in the Pro version include dictation, custom vocabulary, video transcription, automation, custom voice commands, and persistent LLM memory.

Reception
TechRadar has consistently listed Braina as one of the best speech to text and virtual assistant apps between 2015 and 2024.