AI hardware is reinventing the humble dictaphone

The author, a journalist, has transitioned from using traditional dictaphones to smartphone-based recorders like Google Pixel's Recorder app. AI-powered voice recording devices from startups like Plaud and Notta are now changing the game. The Plaud Note and NotePin offer improved features, including automatic summaries and speaker identification. The Plaud devices require cloud processing for transcription and offer a free plan with paid upgrades. Notta Memo, a similar product, has a built-in screen and offers in-app translation, providing seamless workflow. Notta's subscription pricing is slightly lower, though its free plan is more limited. Despite the cost, the author considers these devices a worthwhile investment for professionals who regularly record audio. The dedicated hardware offers advantages over smartphone apps, like on-the-go recording and call recording. AI's language understanding capabilities make these voice recorders particularly effective, proving a valuable use case for AI-first hardware.