“Local-first” is useful only when you know which activity it describes. Editing a document, asking an AI question and sharing a link are different operations. They do not have the same data flow.
Ordinary editing happens on your device
LumenQube’s desktop editors let you work with local files on your computer. Opening a supported file, writing, formatting and making ordinary edits do not require you to turn the document into a cloud collaboration session.
Keep that distinction in mind when a task includes both editing and AI. A document can remain stored locally while selected content from it is sent to a cloud service to answer a question or perform an AI-assisted step.
| Activity | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Local editing | Work with the file on your device |
| Cloud AI or connected apps | Relevant instructions and content may be sent to the service |
| Sharing or publishing | A document becomes available beyond your device under the selected access rules |
Cloud features need relevant content
When you ask a cloud AI model to work on a document, the request can include your instructions and the content needed for the task. What is included depends on the feature, the source and the tools used. Do not assume that “the file stays on disk” means no information from it leaves the computer.
Connected-app operations involve the connected service. A calendar lookup, a search across external sources or an action in another app may send a query or task data to that service. Transcription also uses network-backed processing.
Before using these features with confidential material, review the Security Centre, privacy policy and the scope of the connected account. Choose sources deliberately and avoid including information the task does not need.
Sharing makes a separate copy available
A shared or published document is designed to be accessed beyond your own device. Review who can open it, whether sign-in or a passcode is required, how long access lasts and whether downloads are allowed.
Shared and published documents are protected with TLS in transit and encryption at rest using server-managed keys. They are not end-to-end encrypted. This is a different guarantee from a file that stays only on your own computer.
For Business teams, organization policies can restrict collaboration, public links, guest access and downloads. Those controls help define the permitted sharing behavior; they do not change the underlying encryption model.
Use a simple check before each task
- What information does the task need?
- Will I edit locally, use cloud AI, contact another service or share a document?
- Which account and permissions will the action use?
- Who will be able to see or download the result?
- Can I achieve the same result with less source material?
For example, if you need help rewriting one paragraph, provide that paragraph and the necessary context instead of an unrelated collection of files. If you only need to format a document, use the editor directly.
Product features and service arrangements can change. Use this article to understand the distinctions, and consult the current security and privacy documentation for the details that apply to your work.
