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ZDNET’s key takeaways
Apple Intelligence can transcribe your voice memos totally free.
The transcriptions are simple to entry and pretty correct.
The Otter.ai different is $17 monthly.
Whenever you hear of AI options on smartphones, you usually 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 if an AI function is value it needs to 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 function in Voice Memos does simply that.
As a reporter, my job includes 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 providers corresponding to Otter.ai, which additionally got here in helpful for different makes use of, corresponding to transcribing conferences, lectures, and conferences.
That stated, the Apple Intelligence Voice Memo transcription function solved a serious difficulty I had with the transcription service, and I’m doubtless by no means going again — and this is why you should not both in case you are an Apple person who values a bang on your buck.
Otter.ai jail
Earlier than I clarify what makes the Apple intelligence function so good, I want to elucidate the largest difficulty with its extra in style competitor, Otter.ai. The transcription service used AI to offer high-quality transcriptions lengthy earlier than the expertise exploded in reputation.
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 should you’re utilizing it frequently, as one assembly, interview, or lecture alone could be 60 minutes lengthy.
Nonetheless, I used to be prepared to take care of that, as more often than not, I simply logged on from completely different emails at any time when I hit a restrict, and the transcriptions have been principally correct, with a handy and straightforward interface.
Being despatched to Otter.ai jail was my final straw.
Primarily, in case you are on a free plan, Otter.ai solely permits 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, finding out, or an article.
The worst half is you could’t export the audio, even should you recorded it within the app. The one strategy to entry it’s to improve to Otter Professional for $17 monthly. As soon as that occurred, I knew I needed to discover another: Apple’s Voice Memo.
Apple Voice Memo Transcriptions (and how one can entry)
Since my day by day driver is an iPhone 16 Professional, I already report most of my voice memos on the app. From overlaying Apple Intelligence extensively, I knew there was a transcription choice, so I made a decision to present 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 in a while 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 on the market solely to telephones with the A17 Professional chip or greater, which incorporates the iPhone 15 Professional or later.
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’ll be able to see the textual content after the actual fact. Like with Otter.ai, should you 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 might have missed.
Whereas it lacks some instruments that Otter.ai has, corresponding to the flexibility to focus on or add feedback, you’ll be able to choose content material and replica it to a different app or doc, and you can too select to repeat your complete transcript and import it elsewhere. I’ve accomplished 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 figuring out that my audio messages should not going to be locked behind a paywall at any time.
If you need step-by-step directions on how one can provoke a recording within the Voice Memos app or how one can entry the transcripts, you’ll be able to observe Apple’s step-by-step information. However as talked about above, the method is fairly intuitive.
My favourite a part of this function? A reminder that AI options could be easy to be good.
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