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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Apple Intelligence can transcribe your voice memos at no cost.
- The transcriptions are simple to entry and pretty correct.
- The Otter.ai various is $17 per 30 days.
Once you hear of AI options on smartphones, you usually consider the flashiest, agentic AI options that might perform duties for you with out you having to raise a finger. Nevertheless, I’m a agency believer that the litmus take a look at as as to whether an AI function is price it must be whether or not it’s returning actual worth to your life, whether or not that be time or cash, and in the very best case, each. This transcription function in Voice Memos does simply that.
As a reporter, my job entails recording interviews. These interviews require transcribing to not solely make it simpler to drag quotes but in addition to parse via prolonged interviews. Ever since undergrad, I’ve relied on companies corresponding to Otter.ai, which additionally got here in helpful for different makes use of, corresponding to transcribing conferences, lectures, and conferences.
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That stated, the Apple Intelligence Voice Memo transcription function solved a serious concern I had with the transcription service, and I’m probably by no means going again — and here is why you should not both in case you are an Apple person who values a bang in your buck.
Otter.ai jail
Earlier than I clarify what makes the Apple intelligence function so good, I want to elucidate the most important concern with its extra standard competitor, Otter.ai. The transcription service used AI to supply high-quality transcriptions lengthy earlier than the know-how exploded in recognition.
Whereas Otter.ai has a free subscription tier, it solely permits three lifetime audio/video file imports and 300 month-to-month minutes, that are simple to fly via for those who’re utilizing it frequently, as one assembly, interview, or lecture alone will be 60 minutes lengthy.
Nevertheless, I used to be keen to take care of that, as more often than not, I simply logged on from totally different emails at any time when I hit a restrict, and the transcriptions had been principally correct, with a handy and simple interface.
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Being despatched to Otter.ai jail was my final straw.
Basically, in case you are on a free plan, Otter.ai solely allows you to view your 25 most up-to-date conversations. Any older conversations over 25 are archived and inaccessible. That is particularly problematic if, like me, you require entry to your recordings months later, both for sophistication, learning, or an article.
The worst half is which you could’t export the audio, even for those who recorded it within the app. The one option to entry it’s to improve to Otter Professional for $17 per 30 days. As soon as that occurred, I knew I needed to discover another: Apple’s Voice Memo.
Apple Voice Memo Transcriptions (and the right way to entry)
Since my every day driver is an iPhone 16 Professional, I already file most of my voice memos on the app. From protecting Apple Intelligence extensively, I knew there was a transcription possibility, so I made a decision to offer it a strive.
After months of utilizing it, I’ve discovered the transcriptions to be correct. Most significantly, not solely is it free to entry, however this can be very simple to take action natively with out having to export recordsdata. All you want is iOS 18.0 or afterward an iPhone 12 or later, which makes it certainly one of Apple’s extra accessible options. The broader suite of Apple’s AI options is out there solely to telephones with the A17 Professional chip or greater, which incorporates the iPhone 15 Professional or later.
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Then, to entry the transcripts, click on on the icon that appears like a citation mark inside a thought bubble whereas recording to see a stay transcript. Or, you possibly can see the textual content after the actual fact. Like with Otter.ai, for those who click on on the textual content, it is going to play the corresponding audio, which I usually do to confirm the accuracy of the transcription or seize some phrases it could have missed.
Whereas it lacks some instruments that Otter.ai has, corresponding to the flexibility to spotlight or add feedback, you possibly can choose content material and replica it to a different app or doc, and you can even select to repeat your complete transcript and import it elsewhere. I’ve completed this earlier than and imported it right into a Google Doc in order that I can extra simply spotlight or make notes. One of the best half is realizing that my audio messages will not be going to be locked behind a paywall at any time.
If you need step-by-step directions on the right way to provoke a recording within the Voice Memos app or the right way to entry the transcripts, you possibly can observe Apple’s step-by-step guide. However as talked about above, the method is fairly intuitive.
My favourite a part of this function? A reminder that AI options will be easy to be good.
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