$159 AI voice recorder transforms note-taking with GPT-4o transcription

Jack Wallen, a contributing writer at ZDNET, has reviewed the Plaud Note, a $159 AI-powered voice recorder that combines hardware and software to transcribe and summarize voice recordings. The device transforms traditional voice note-taking by automatically syncing recordings to a mobile app that uses GPT-4o and Claude 3.5 Sonnet to generate transcriptions and AI-powered summaries, though these features require a separate paid subscription.

What you should know: The Plaud Note is a credit card-sized recording device that offers one-press recording with advanced AI capabilities for transcription and summarization.

• The device costs $159 and works with both Android and iOS apps, featuring 30-hour continuous recording on a single charge and 64GB internal storage.
• AI features including transcription, summarization, and mind mapping require a separate subscription ranging from $10 for 600 minutes to $240 annually for unlimited usage.
• The device supports 112 transcription languages and offers multiple professional templates for different use cases.

How it works: Users can record voice notes by pressing and holding the device’s single button, with recordings automatically syncing to the mobile app for AI processing.

• To record, users ensure the slider is in the down position, press and hold the button until the device vibrates, speak their note, then press and hold again to stop recording.
• Once synced to the app, users can select newly recorded notes and tap “Summarize” to choose from various templates for AI-generated summaries.
• The device can also record phone calls when flipped to the up position and attached to a phone via MagSafe case, though users must verify local recording laws before using this feature.

The reviewer’s experience: Wallen initially dismissed the device but became “absolutely sold” after five minutes of testing, finding it significantly more efficient than standard voice recording apps.

• “It took about five minutes until I was absolutely sold on this tiny device. I recorded notes and had them summarized with shareable/usable transcripts as quickly as a standard voice recording app could generate a basic transcription.”
• As an author, Wallen found the device particularly useful for recording book ideas that could be transcribed, summarized, and saved to Google Documents for later use.
• The transcription accuracy matched that of Android’s Recording app, which Wallen described as “impressively accurate.”

Pricing breakdown: While the device costs $159, the AI subscription plans create additional ongoing costs for full functionality.

• Basic plan: 600 minutes for $10
• Annual Pro Plan: 1,200 minutes for $79
• Mid-tier options: 3,000 minutes for $49 and 6,000 minutes for $89
• Unlimited plan: $240 annually
• Without a subscription, the device continues recording and syncing but loses all AI transcription and summarization capabilities.

Why this matters: The Plaud Note represents a shift from basic voice recording to AI-enhanced productivity tools, offering professionals a more sophisticated approach to capturing and processing voice notes with immediate transcription and summarization capabilities.