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ZDNET's key takeaways
Apple Intelligence can transcribe your voice memos for free.
The transcriptions are easy to access and fairly accurate.
The Otter.ai alternative is $17 per month.
When you hear of AI features on smartphones, you often think of the flashiest, agentic AI features that could carry out tasks for you without you having to lift a finger. However, I am a firm believer that the litmus test as to whether an AI feature is worth it should be whether it is returning real value to your life, whether that be time or money, and in the best case, both. This transcription feature in Voice Memos does just that.
As a reporter, my job involves recording interviews. These interviews require transcribing to not only make it easier to pull quotes but also to parse through lengthy interviews. Ever since undergrad, I have relied on services such as Otter.ai, which also came in handy for other uses, such as transcribing meetings, lectures, and conferences.
Also: 7 AI features I'd like to see the iPhone 17 embrace from Google, OpenAI, and others
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