Introducing RITS AI Voice Bridge

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RITS AI Voice Bridge v3.2-beta is available now for both Windows and Mac.

User Manuals: Windows Manual | Mac Manual

RITS AI Voice Bridge v3.2-beta is a free, privacy-focused local utility from Reasonable IT Service that adds a private voice layer to ChatGPT, Claude, DeepSeek, Gemini, and Grok in Google Chrome.

It supports local dictation, local read-aloud, a floating Mic | Repeat | Stop control, voice-command auto-send, selective re-reading of long AI responses, keyboard shortcuts, and a native background control app for Windows and macOS.

  • No cloud TTS
  • No API key
  • No extra account
  • No telemetry
  • No system-level background service
  • No separate Python installation required
  • No platform-controlled voice mode required

Your AI writes. Your computer talks. You stay in control.

Requirement: Google Chrome. RITS AI Voice Bridge includes its own private runtime, so Python does not need to be installed separately.

What’s New in v3.2-beta

  • No separate Python installation required. RITS now ships with its own private Python 3.13.15 runtime and does not use or modify your system Python installation.
  • New native-style background control with a persistent Windows system tray icon and macOS menu bar icon.
  • RITS now starts automatically when you sign in and runs quietly in the background as a normal user application.
  • New control menu with Status, Check for Updates, Restart RITS, User Manual, Uninstall, and Quit.
  • New built-in update checker with automatic periodic checks and a manual Check for Updates… option.
  • Built-in uninstall support on both platforms, including normal Windows Installed Apps integration.
  • Improved Re-read from here… targeting with sentence preview before playback begins.
  • Improved Chrome tab lifecycle handling so closing the active AI tab stops read-aloud without normal downloads or file links incorrectly interrupting playback.
  • Streamlined Chrome extension setup during the beta installation process.
  • Improved Windows and macOS application, tray, and menu-bar icons.
  • Improved installer, upgrade, relaunch, cleanup, and uninstall behavior across Windows and macOS.

Core Features

  • Support for ChatGPT
  • Support for Claude
  • Support for DeepSeek
  • Support for Gemini
  • Support for Grok
  • Local dictation with Whisper
  • Read-aloud using your computer’s local system voice
  • Floating Mic | Repeat | Stop control
  • Full-response re-read
  • Re-read from here… for resuming long responses from a selected sentence
  • Stop control for interrupting local read-aloud
  • Voice-command auto-send
  • Windows and macOS keyboard shortcuts
  • Native background status controls
  • Built-in update checking
  • Built-in uninstall support
  • Local voice-processing architecture

What It Does

RITS AI Voice Bridge runs locally on your computer.

It adds a small floating control to supported AI chat sites in Google Chrome. You can dictate a prompt locally, insert it into the chat box, send it manually, or use a simple final phrase command to send it automatically.

When the AI responds, RITS AI Voice Bridge can read the response aloud using your computer’s local system voice.

If the response is long, you can replay the entire answer or use Re-read from here… to choose the sentence where read-aloud should resume.

RITS AI Voice Bridge does not replace ChatGPT, Claude, DeepSeek, Gemini, or Grok.

It adds a local voice layer on top of the normal text-chat experience.

Re-read from Here

Long AI responses can be useful, but replaying an entire response just to hear one section again is not always practical.

Clicking the Repeat control gives you two options:

  • Re-read entire response
  • Re-read from here…

Choose Re-read from here… and move over the response to preview the sentence where playback will begin. Click the sentence you want, and RITS AI Voice Bridge continues reading from that point through the remainder of the response.

This gives you much more control over long-form AI read-aloud without changing the normal text-chat experience.

Voice Command Auto-Send

RITS AI Voice Bridge supports a simple voice command for sending messages.

If your dictation ends with “send message” or “send a message”, the bridge removes that final command phrase and submits the remaining prompt automatically.

Example:

You say: Explain this in one paragraph send message

The AI site receives: Explain this in one paragraph

The command only triggers when the send phrase is the final phrase. Saying something like “send message to the client” will not trigger auto-send.

Dictation must still be ended using Enter, the Mic button, or the platform hotkey before the completed recording can be transcribed and the final send command detected.

Controls

RITS AI Voice Bridge keeps the browser controls simple.

  • Click the Mic button to start recording
  • The Mic button changes state while recording
  • Click the Mic button again to stop recording and transcribe
  • Press Enter while recording to stop and transcribe
  • Windows dictation hotkey: Ctrl + Shift + V
  • Mac dictation hotkey: Cmd + Shift + V
  • Click Repeat to replay or resume the latest AI response
  • Choose Re-read entire response for full playback
  • Choose Re-read from here… to resume from a selected sentence
  • Click Stop to stop current local read-aloud
  • Press Esc inside the AI site tab to stop local read-aloud
  • Click the small ? button for product and support information

RITS also runs quietly in the background with a control icon in the Windows system tray or macOS menu bar.

From there you can check status, check for updates, restart RITS, open the user manual, uninstall the application, or quit it completely.

Updates

RITS AI Voice Bridge includes a built-in update checker.

The application can periodically check for a newer release in the background, and you can manually check at any time using Check for Updates… from the Windows system tray or macOS menu bar.

When a newer release is available, RITS can retrieve the appropriate update package for your platform and hand it off to the normal RITS installer.

Updates are validated before installation.

Installation

RITS AI Voice Bridge v3.2-beta includes its own private runtime.

You do not need to install Python separately.

The installer also checks for Google Chrome before proceeding. If Chrome is not installed, RITS stops the installation and asks you to install Chrome first.

During the beta period, the Chrome extension is installed manually using Chrome’s Load unpacked feature. The RITS installer opens the Chrome Extensions page and guides you through the process.

Once installed, RITS starts automatically when you sign in and runs quietly in the background.

Why We Built It

Native voice modes can be convenient, but they come with tradeoffs.

One of the biggest is control. With native voice features, your audio is handled through the platform’s own voice system. That means transcription, retention rules, usage limits, available features, and the overall voice experience are controlled by that platform.

For example, OpenAI’s own Voice Dictation FAQ explains that recorded dictation audio is sent to OpenAI’s models for transcription and may be retained while the associated chat remains in your chat history.

OpenAI’s Voice documentation also describes how audio associated with voice conversations is handled and retained.

That may be perfectly acceptable for many users, but we wanted another option.

With RITS AI Voice Bridge, dictation audio is sent only to the local RITS helper running on your own computer. The supported AI platform receives the final text prompt only when you choose to send it.

Voice features can also change over time. They can be limited, redesigned, removed, paywalled, or behave differently across platforms.

There is also a practical difference between using a platform’s native voice mode and using its normal text interface. RITS AI Voice Bridge lets you keep the regular chat experience while adding local voice functionality on top of it.

RITS AI Voice Bridge takes a simpler approach.

  • Use the normal AI chat in Chrome
  • Dictate locally on your own computer
  • Send only the final text prompt when you choose to send it
  • Let the AI answer normally in text
  • Let your own computer read the answer aloud locally
  • Replay the full response or resume from a selected point whenever you want

Less platform-controlled voice processing. More user control.

How It Works

RITS AI Voice Bridge runs a small local helper on your computer at 127.0.0.1:5055.

The Chrome extension communicates with that local helper.

When you dictate, your microphone audio is sent to the RITS helper on the same computer, transcribed locally with Whisper, and inserted into the AI chat box as text.

When the AI responds, the bridge captures the response text and reads it aloud through your computer’s local system voice.

The supported AI platform receives what it normally receives: a text prompt.

Raw microphone audio is not sent to ChatGPT, Claude, DeepSeek, Gemini, or Grok by RITS AI Voice Bridge.

Why It Matters

RITS AI Voice Bridge gives you a local voice layer for the AI tools you already use.

You can continue using the normal ChatGPT, Claude, DeepSeek, Gemini, and Grok interfaces in Chrome while adding local dictation, local read-aloud, and independent playback controls.

You keep the normal text conversation. You keep control over when your prompt is sent. Your computer handles the voice layer locally.

Native voice modes prioritize convenience. RITS AI Voice Bridge prioritizes local control, privacy, flexibility, and consistency.

RITS AI Voice Bridge is free to use but is not open-source software.

Please note: RITS AI Voice Bridge is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by OpenAI, Anthropic, DeepSeek, Google, or xAI. ChatGPT, Claude, DeepSeek, Gemini, and Grok are trademarks of their respective owners.

DISCLAIMER OF WARRANTIES
RITS AI Voice Bridge is provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranties of any kind, express or implied, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. Reasonable IT Service does not warrant that the software will be uninterrupted, error-free, compatible with every system or third-party service, or free from defects. You assume responsibility for the use of RITS AI Voice Bridge and for determining whether it is suitable for your intended use. Some jurisdictions do not allow the exclusion or limitation of certain warranties, so some of the above limitations may not apply to you.

How to Reinstall pfSense on a Netgate 6100 Firewall

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Looking for a simple walkthrough on reinstalling pfSense on a Netgate 6100 using the Netgate Installer? You’re in the right place.

In the video below, we walk through the reinstall process in a clean, straightforward way so you can see exactly what to expect before doing it yourself.

Before You Start

Before reinstalling pfSense, make sure you have a backup of your current configuration. If this firewall is being used in production, schedule a maintenance window before making changes.

References

Watch the Full Walkthrough

Follow along with the full video tutorial below:

Need Help With pfSense or Business Firewall Support?

Reasonable IT Service provides firewall, networking, server, and cybersecurity support for small businesses. If you need help with pfSense, Netgate firewalls, VLANs, or business network troubleshooting, contact us today.

How To Install deepseek-r1 On Windows (self-hosted)

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DeepSeek R1 is shaking up the AI world! It’s a powerful open-source AI model that rivals ChatGPT while being cheaper, faster, and even self-hostable.

Today I’ll be quickly breaking down why DeepSeek R1 is all the hype, how it compares to ChatGPT, and how you can install it (self-hosted) on Windows in minutes!

So whats all this deepseek fuss about and how does it compare to ChatGPT?

DeepSeek R1 vs. ChatGPT: A Head-to-Head Comparison

The AI landscape is evolving rapidly, and DeepSeek R1 has entered the scene as a serious competitor to ChatGPT. With its open-source nature, self-hosting capabilities, and performance claims, DeepSeek is drawing attention from AI enthusiasts and developers alike. But how does it really stack up against ChatGPT? Let’s break it down and let you decide which is the best fit for your needs.

1. PERFORMANCE: SPEED VS. DEPTH

DeepSeek R1 is designed for speed and efficiency. It’s optimized for quick responses, making it a strong choice for tasks that require rapid processing, such as data analysis and structured queries. Some early tests suggest that DeepSeek can outperform ChatGPT in raw speed and accuracy for certain technical tasks. However, ChatGPT has been praised for its nuanced, conversational responses, making it a better choice for more in-depth discussions and creative writing.

DeepSeek Strengths: Faster response times, excels in structured queries.
ChatGPT Strengths: More natural conversational abilities, better for in-depth discussions.

2. SELF-HOSTING: CONTROL VS. CONVENIENCE

A major differentiator is that DeepSeek R1 can be self-hosted. This means users have complete control over their AI, data privacy, and customization. For businesses or developers concerned about data security, this is a huge plus. In contrast, ChatGPT is cloud-based, requiring reliance on OpenAI’s servers, which offers ease of use but less control.

DeepSeek Strengths: Full control, better privacy, adaptable to specific infrastructure needs.
ChatGPT Strengths: No setup required, hassle-free cloud-based accessibility.

3. COST: FREE VS. SUBSCRIPTION-BASED

DeepSeek R1 is open-source and free to use, making it an attractive option for those looking to experiment without financial constraints. ChatGPT has a free tier but comes with usage limits, and for access to the most advanced versions, a paid subscription is required.

DeepSeek Strengths: Completely free and open-source.
ChatGPT Strengths: Offers a polished experience with premium features via a paid plan.

4. CUSTOMIZATION & FLEXIBILITY

Since DeepSeek R1 is open-source, users can modify and tailor the model to their specific needs, whether for enterprise applications or personal projects. ChatGPT, on the other hand, is a closed system, meaning users can interact with it but cannot modify its core functionality.

DeepSeek Strengths: Highly customizable and flexible for unique applications.
ChatGPT Strengths: Well-optimized out of the box, with consistent performance.

FINAL THOUGHTS: WHICH ONE IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

Both of these AI Chat-Bot juggernaughts are neck and neck with each model having its strengths depending on what you’re looking for.

If you prioritize speed, privacy, and customization, DeepSeek R1 is a solid option.
If you prefer a polished, conversational AI with minimal setup, ChatGPT remains a great choice.

As AI technology continues to evolve, the best choice will depend on your specific use case. Have you tried both? Let us know which one worked better for you!

Ok So How Do I Install deepseek-r1 On Windows

Step 1 – download and install Docker on your Windows machine

Step 2 – download and install Ollama on your Windows machine

Step 3 – open powershell and run this command to install deepseek-r1 8b:

ollama run deepseek-r1:8b

Step 4 – we need to connect OpenWebUI to Ollama so that we have a front end ui to interact with our chatbot. OpenWebUI, at this time, does not run on Windows directly (it’s for Linux) and so we need to containerize it with Docker. Super simple, all you have to do is run this command (note – ONLY for windows running nvidia GPU’s):

docker run -d -p 3000:8080 –gpus all –add-host=host.docker.internal:host-gateway -v open-webui:/app/backend/data –name open-webui –restart always ghcr.io/open-webui/open-webui:cuda

Step 5 – Open your web browser and navigate to: http://localhost:3000/auth

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