It’s set-it and forget-it easy, but you probably shouldn’t do that
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Recently, I decided I needed help, and a colleague recommended Otter.ai for interviews.
You can access Otter.ai in a browser or with the iOS or Android apps.Mockup Photos
Just before the keynote presentation started, I downloaded the app and captured the keynote using the free version.
What I learned is that I’ll probably never attend another conference without an AI transcription service again.
It’s not all roses, though.
Otter.ai is a useful tool for capturing and transcribing audio.Lifewire / Jerri Ledford
There are a few caveats, which I’ll discuss.
I knew there would be a ton of information that I didn’t want to miss.
Otter.ai was easy to download and start using.
Otter.ai is available in a web browser, or as an iOS or Android app.Lifewire / Jerri Ledford
All I had to do to get started was enter an email address.
I just stopped and restarted the recording every 30 minutes during the keynote.
A paid tier removes that limitation, but let’s talk about the free tier first.
Lifewire / Jerri Ledford
I was amazed when I started the recording.
I could watch, live on the screen, as the AI recorded and transcribed the presentation in real-time.
It was kind of amazing.
The transcription was pretty good.
I found it useful to have exact slides to refer back to when needed.
It can automatically join all the meetings on your calendar.
But the other thing is that I quickly learned I don’t want an AI bot inallof my meetings.
Consider your company’s stance on AI before you enable that.
Needless to say, I turned it back off pretty quickly.
To circumvent that, I leaned into Notes' new recording and transcription capabilities in iOS 18.
Still, it worked pretty well for a roundabout way to capture an audio recording and transcript.
Is Otter.ai Worth It?
I’ve already mentioned that Otter.ai has a free version.
And for most people, that’s probably enough.
If you have greater needs, you’re able to invest in Otter.ai’s premium subscriptions.
This is the subscription I have, and so far, I’ve never hit the limit on it.
You could also opt for the Business subscription, which is $30/mo or $240/yr.
Depending on your needs, I’d say it’s worth it.
