San Franciso and Bangalore-based Project Mirage has announced the launch of Dune, a new context-aware keypad that’s designed to plug into a MacBook and provide three programmable buttons whose actions change depending on the app running in the foreground.
So why would anyone want such a gadget? Well, if you’ve ever wished you could assign custom shortcuts to a MacBook’s keys, to speed up certain functions, Dune could be the answer. Most of the key combinations on a MacBook are already taken up by macOS functions or the apps running, which leaves very few options for customizing the keyboard further. That’s where Dune comes in.
Dune slots into one of the USB-C ports on the left side of a MacBook and can be used to turn repetitive, multi-step actions into a single button press. By combining the Dune hardware with intelligent software, the keypad provides context-aware commands for automating workflows. It offers tactile control, customizable triggers and agentic workflows from a single interface.
Keyboards Are Last Century
“QWERTY keyboards were designed over a hundred years ago, for the purpose of capturing text, at a time when multitasking wasn’t a concept,” says Apoorv Shankar, founder and CEO of Project Mirage. “And while computing power and software have constantly evolved, the QWERTY keyboard design has barely changed.
“But with the rapid advances in AI over the last few years, the gap between software and how we interact with it has grown enormously. We’re doing a lot more than we used to in the same amount of time, juggling context across multiple apps, running complex workflows, and relying on AI to keep up. Yet we’re still using the same hardware interface built for a simpler time,” Shankar adds.
“The result: AI adoption feels overwhelming instead of effortless. That’s the gap Dune was built for. A new kind of interface designed for the way you actually work today, that sits between the keyboard you’ve always used and single-click triggers that adapt to what you’re working on.”
How Dune Works
Dune connects directly to a MacBook’s USB-C port and works with the Dune Mac app, by detecting the active foreground app and displaying the current operation of each of the three keys in the bottom left corner of the screen, updating automatically whenever the user switches app.
Each of the three Dune keys can trigger developer shortcuts across GitHub, VS Code, and Claude. It also provides one-click meeting controls for Zoom, Teams, and Google Meet; or any custom script or agentic workflow built through the Dune Marketplace. The keypad becomes a personalized command center that maintains itself. With the right context and the right agent behind it, a single button on Dune can become an extremely powerful tool.
Dune also features a Claude-powered setup that lets users configure their entire Dune experience through a conversation, such as changing scripts, adding shortcuts or building custom workflows from scratch, with no manual configuration required.
Who Needs It?
Dune is designed to appeal to anyone who spends their days in back-to-back meetings. The app syncs with the user’s calendar and then surfaces a meeting link two minutes before it’s due to start. Joining a call requires just one button press to connect directly and another to send a running late email to the other attendees.
During the call, the first key turns into a mic toggle control, while the second key toggles the webcam on and off. A single press of the last key brings the active meeting window to the front, no matter what app is already on the screen. All three keys are fully configurable, with support built in for tools like Granola, custom meeting agents and automated follow-ups when the call ends.
Another group of users that might find Dune useful is developers who context-switch throughout the day. Dune detects which dev tool someone is using and maps the three keys to the actions the user reaches for most, across GitHub, VS Code and Claude. For example, in GitHub, that would be Approve PR, Reject PR and Merge PR. In Claude, it might be Accept, Reject and Check Limits.
Cuts Through Menus
All these commands are possible without clicking through menus or switching windows. The assignments can also be customized to suit the user’s needs. Power users can use Dune to assign any shortcut sequence to a button, including a URL, custom script or agentic workflow to any of the three keys. If you can write it, Dune can run it.
Dune is designed to be highly customizable and users can assign their own scripts, agents and shortcuts for any application to any of the three keys. The team behind the product recently launched the Dune Marketplace, an online space where users can browse and install scripts and agentic workflows built by members of the Dune community. Alongside this, Build with Claude connects Dune’s MCP directly with Claude, enabling users to build complex agentic workflow triggers by describing what they need.
The physical Dune device is CNC-machined from aluminum and features mechanical scissor-switch keys for a tactile feel. The design sits flush with a MacBook Air 13 and 15-inch (M2 or later) and MacBook Pro 14 and 16-inch (M1 Pro or later). It’s also compatible with other Macs running macOS Monterey or later by using a USB-C adapter. There’s no subscription necessary to use the Dune app.
Pricing and Availability:
Dune from Project Mirage is shipping now and priced at $119 from www.projectmirage.ai.
