We’ve all been there – you’re sat in a meeting or lecture, hammering out notes, and struggling to keep up. And you’re not really able to pay attention to what’s actually being said either. That sounds like a lose-lose situation to us. Luckily, there’s a better way. The AI that’s stuffed into your smartphone can act as your very own personal assistant, transcribing all those convos and events for you. And apart from pressing record, you won’t even have to lift a finger. 

By using these tools, you’ll be more present, create perfect records of key conversations, and save yourself hours of time. What’s not to like? 

Imagine being able to focus entirely on what your lecturer is saying, without worrying about taking notes. Well, with AI transcription, you can. It turns your phone into the ultimate study buddy, taking the lead while you sit back and learn. 

You’ll need a few apps to get going though. Otter.ai or your phone’s built-in Voice Memo app are both great places to start and are perfect for recording a lecture or seminar. Plus, they convert your audio into searchable docs, letting you track down quotes or certain topics later on. 

Here’s why we love them: 

• Perfect study guide – Get a word-for-word transcript of the entire lecture. You won’t miss any of the important info. 
• Searchable content – Need to find a specific point? Just search for keywords in the transcript and track it down fast. 
• Focus on understanding – Instead of frantically scribbling notes, you can actually concentrate on understanding the material. 

Meetings can be a real double-edged sword. Yes, they’re incredibly important for collaboration, but taking notes can be a distraction. With AI transcription though, you can easily stay on top of your game. 

A lot of us work from home now, which means plenty of video calls. Get the Zoom AI Companion, Microsoft Copilot in Teams or Gemini in Google Meet, and you can transcribe these chats in real-time.  You won’t miss any details. And can actually get involved in the discussion properly too! 

Here’s why we love them:

• Instant notes – Get shareable, bite-sized notes right after the meeting, so everyone is on the same page. 
• Key action points – The software can spot and highlight next steps, making following up later on way easier. 
• Summaries and missed meetings – Can’t attend the meeting? Don’t sweat it. Catch up afterwards with a detailed summary. 

AI transcription isn’t just for the students and the pros. You can get loads out of it during your regular day-to-day too…

• Personal notes – Ever had a great idea when you’re out for a walk? Use voice dictation features in apps like ChatGPT to turn your spoken thoughts into text. There’ll be no more fumbling to type while you’re on the go. And you won’t have forgotten your grand plan by the time you get home either! 
• Accessibility – Live transcription apps can offer real-time captions for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. And this makes events - or even just a normal chat - far more straightforward. 

While AI transcription is a seriously handy tool, It’s worth thinking about this stuff too…

• Get permission – Before you hit record, always get consent from whoever’s in the room. Transcribing private conversations or meetings without someone knowing about it isn’t cool. Give them a quick heads up, and you’ll be good to go. 
• Check for accuracy – AI can sometimes struggle with strong accents or noisy environments. So, double check the final transcript to make sure the info is 100% accurate once the recording’s done. 
• Battery and data usage – Recording and processing audio can do a number on your phone’s battery and will drain it quickly. Plus, if you’re using a cloud-based service for this, we’d suggest uploading any larger files over Wi-Fi. That way, you’ll avoid using up big chunks of your data allowance. 

So, whether it’s for smashing your studies, streamlining your day at the office – or just making life simpler – your phone’s AI transcription is on call whenever you need it. 

And guess what? You can start playing about with voice to text transcription right now. Try using the voice dictation button on your phone’s keyboard to reply to a message or jot down a quick note. Then let us know how it went in the comments down below!