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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Apple Intelligence can transcribe your voice memos free of charge.
- 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 typically consider the flashiest, agentic AI options that would perform duties for you with out you having to elevate a finger. Nonetheless, I’m a agency believer that the litmus take a look at as as to whether an AI characteristic is value it must be whether or not it’s returning actual worth to your life, whether or not that be time or cash, and in one of the best case, each. This transcription characteristic 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 tug quotes but in addition to parse via prolonged interviews. Ever since undergrad, I’ve relied on companies reminiscent of Otter.ai, which additionally got here in helpful for different makes use of, reminiscent of transcribing conferences, lectures, and conferences.
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That stated, the Apple Intelligence Voice Memo transcription characteristic solved a serious subject I had with the transcription service, and I’m probably by no means going again — and this is why you should not both if you’re an Apple person who values a bang to your buck.
Otter.ai jail
Earlier than I clarify what makes the Apple intelligence characteristic so good, I would like to clarify the most important subject with its extra widespread competitor, Otter.ai. The transcription service used AI to offer high-quality transcriptions lengthy earlier than the expertise 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 in the event you’re utilizing it regularly, as one assembly, interview, or lecture alone might be 60 minutes lengthy.
Nonetheless, I used to be keen to cope with that, as more often than not, I simply logged on from totally different emails every time I hit a restrict, and the transcriptions have been largely correct, with a handy and simple interface.
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Being despatched to Otter.ai jail was my final straw.
Basically, if you’re on a free plan, Otter.ai solely enables 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 in the event you 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 an alternate: Apple’s Voice Memo.
Apple Voice Memo Transcriptions (and find out how to entry)
Since my day by 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 choice, so I made a decision to provide it a attempt.
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 information. All you want is iOS 18.0 or afterward an iPhone 12 or later, which makes it one in all 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 may see the textual content after the actual fact. Like with Otter.ai, in the event you click on on the textual content, it’ll play the corresponding audio, which I typically do to confirm the accuracy of the transcription or seize some phrases it might have missed.
Whereas it lacks some instruments that Otter.ai has, reminiscent of the power to focus on or add feedback, you may choose content material and duplicate it to a different app or doc, and you may also select to repeat all the transcript and import it elsewhere. I’ve carried out 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 understanding that my audio messages aren’t going to be locked behind a paywall at any time.
If you’d like step-by-step directions on find out how to provoke a recording within the Voice Memos app or find out how to entry the transcripts, you may observe Apple’s step-by-step guide. However as talked about above, the method is fairly intuitive.
My favourite a part of this characteristic? A reminder that AI options might be easy to be good.
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