Wake word detection runs a tiny on-device model that listens continuously for a specific phrase like Hey Siri or Hey Google. Until it hears the phrase, no audio leaves the device. When the wake word fires, the assistant opens a session and starts streaming to the cloud. This page covers what you need to know in plain language, plus a short Lucy OS1 perspective. Skip to the FAQ at the bottom for the most common follow up questions.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR
The model is tiny and local
A wake word model is typically a few hundred kilobytes and runs on the device's main processor or DSP.
Audio does not leave the device until the wake word fires
This is the whole privacy point of wake words. The cloud never receives the silent listening audio.
False accepts and false rejects
A wake word model balances the chance of triggering when you did not say the phrase versus the chance of missing when you did.
TLDR:Lucy OS1 does not use a wake word. You start a Lucy session with an explicit click or shortcut, which means there is no always listening model in the background. This is a design choice to give users absolute clarity on when Lucy is listening.
A wake word model is typically a few hundred kilobytes and runs on the device's main processor or DSP.
This is the whole privacy point of wake words. The cloud never receives the silent listening audio.
A wake word model balances the chance of triggering when you did not say the phrase versus the chance of missing when you did.
Vendors like Picovoice and Sensory let you train a custom wake word for your product.
Because the model is tiny and runs continuously on a low power core, the battery cost is minimal.
Browser based voice AI like Lucy OS1 uses an explicit start button instead of a wake word, which removes the always listening question.
QUICK COMPARISON
| Capability | Lucy OS1 | Most AI tools |
|---|---|---|
| Memory across sessions | ✓ Permanent, never resets | ✗ Resets after every session |
| Voice quality | ✓ Lucy OS1 Natural Voice (best-in-class) | ✗ Basic STT, struggles with noise |
| Calendar awareness | ✓ Reads Google Calendar in real time | ✗ No calendar access |
| Available 24/7 | Always on, any device | Available but stateless each time |
| Gets personal over time | ✓ Builds your context continuously | ✗ Starts from zero every session |
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