Dictation vs. live voice chat: what's the difference? Guide
Dictation turns your speech into text you review before sending. Live voice chat is a real-time, two-way spoken conversation with the assistant.
Last updated July 16, 2026
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The Praxivara AI Assistant gives you two ways to use your voice: dictation, which turns your speech into text in the message box, and live voice chat, a real-time spoken conversation with the assistant. They sound similar but work very differently. This article explains what each one does and when to reach for it.
The short version
Dictation is a faster way to type. You speak, your words appear in the composer, and nothing is sent until you review and press Send. Live voice chat is a hands-free conversation: you talk, the assistant talks back out loud in real time, and it can keep working while you speak.
| Dictation | Live voice chat | |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Transcribes your speech into the message box | Two-way spoken conversation |
| Assistant replies | In text, after you press Send | Out loud, in real time |
| You review before sending | Yes — you can edit the text first | No — you speak and it responds live |
| Best for | Composing a message hands-light | Talking through work hands-free |
Dictation: speak instead of type
Dictation is the quickest option when typing is inconvenient — for example, on your phone or while your hands are busy. Your speech becomes editable text in the composer, so you stay fully in control of what gets sent.
- Tap the microphone button in the message composer.
- Speak your request naturally.
- Tap the microphone again to stop.
- Review and edit the transcribed text, then press Send (or Enter).
Because dictation only fills the box, the assistant does not do anything until you send the message — exactly as if you had typed it yourself.
Tip: Dictation is a great pairing with attachments. Dictate your instructions, attach a document or image to the same message, and send them together for the assistant to read and act on.
If dictation isn't working
- Dictation depends on your browser. If the microphone button isn't available, try a supported, up-to-date browser.
- Grant microphone permission when your browser asks. If you previously denied it, re-enable it in your browser's site settings.
- If words come through incorrectly, edit the text in the box before sending — you always get a chance to fix it.
Live voice chat: a real conversation
Live voice chat is a two-way, spoken session. You talk, the assistant listens and replies out loud, and you can go back and forth naturally — no typing and no pressing Send. It's ideal for thinking out loud, working through a task away from the keyboard, or keeping your hands and eyes free.
- Start a session from the voice-chat button in the composer.
- Speak naturally and listen to the assistant's spoken replies.
- Mute yourself, or simply start talking, to interrupt the assistant while it's speaking.
- End the session whenever you want to return to typing.
During a live session the assistant can still do real work — the same kinds of tasks it handles in text chat. When it proposes an action that reaches the outside world, such as sending a message or deleting something, it asks you to approve it first, so nothing happens without your say-so.
Availability and good-to-knows
- Live voice chat is available on plans that include it. You can review your plan in Settings.
- A session needs microphone access. If audio isn't working, check that your browser has microphone permission and that your speakers or headphones are active.
- If a session won't connect, end it and start again, and confirm you have a stable internet connection.
Which one should you use?
Choose dictation when you want to compose a specific message quickly and still review it before it goes out — great for drafting a request, a note, or instructions on the go.
Choose live voice chat when you'd rather have a hands-free conversation — talking through a plan, asking follow-up questions, or getting work done while away from the keyboard.
You can switch between them at any time. Dictate one message, type the next, or open a live voice session when you'd rather talk it through — it's the same assistant and the same conversation throughout.