For many professionals, especially journalists, balancing the need to take notes while having a meaningful conversation is a constant struggle. With long meetings and interviews becoming more common, the need for a smart solution has never been greater. Plaud.AI aims to provide just that with its new product, the NotePin, a ChatGPT-powered recording device designed to make note-taking faster and easier.

Recently, tech writer Brian Heater tested the NotePin during a cross-country trip and shared his thoughts. “The Plaud.AI pin took up mercifully little space in my carry-on,” Heater joked, highlighting its travel-friendly size. As someone who constantly takes notes, he was eager to see if this small device could help him stay organized.

A Simple Way to Take Notes

People who take a lot of notes know that typing while listening can be tricky. Whether in a meeting or an interview, it’s easy to get distracted when you're trying to keep up with both tasks. As Heater points out, typing often interrupts the natural flow of conversation, and the result can be messy, hard-to-read notes. In some cases, people resort to recording conversations entirely.

Before smartphones, journalists like Heater used digital recorders to capture interviews. These recorders were helpful but had their own issues, like poor sound quality and clunky features. Today, most people rely on their smartphones for recording, but this too can lead to problems, such as picking up unwanted background noise.

Plaud.AI offers a solution with its NotePin, a small device that clips onto your phone or shirt. All you need to do is tap it once to start recording and tap it again to stop. The recording is then saved to your phone, and you can upload it to the Plaud app for transcription using ChatGPT. The idea is to make the whole process faster and more efficient, so you spend less time on technicalities and more time focusing on your work.

How ChatGPT Helps With Transcriptions

At the heart of the NotePin’s usefulness is its ability to transcribe audio into text using ChatGPT. This means that instead of just recording a conversation, the NotePin can quickly turn what was said into a written format. This feature is a game-changer for anyone who struggles to organize their notes after long meetings.

Plaud offers different pricing plans. The device itself costs $169 and comes with 300 free transcription minutes per month. For those who need more, a Pro plan costs $6.60 a month, offering 1,200 minutes and extra features like custom templates and an “Ask AI” function. This feature lets you ask questions and get more details from your transcriptions, even across multiple recordings.

Heater, who regularly uses Otter.AI (another transcription service), noted that Plaud’s service made his work easier. The process of recording with the NotePin and quickly receiving transcriptions saved him time and effort. The device can also handle conversations in 59 different languages and identify multiple speakers, which makes it useful for international meetings or interviews with more than one person.

Easy to Use, Travel-Friendly Design

One of the best things about the NotePin is how easy it is to use. Unlike some AI gadgets that overcomplicate things, the NotePin is simple. You tap it to start recording, and a small vibration tells you it’s working. If you want to check on the recording, you can open the Plaud app on your phone to confirm that everything is going smoothly.

The design of the NotePin is small and lightweight, making it perfect for traveling. Heater appreciated how little space it took up in his bag during a recent trip. For people who are always on the go, like journalists or business professionals, this is a big plus.

However, there is room for improvement. Heater mentioned that one feature he missed from using Otter.AI was the ability to click on a word in the transcription to hear the original audio. This small but useful feature could make it even easier to verify quotes or review important sections of a conversation. He expects Plaud might add this feature in the future.

Is the NotePin Worth It?

While the NotePin isn’t the cheapest option at $169, it could be a good investment for people who attend a lot of meetings or interviews. The Pro plan, with its extra transcription minutes and advanced AI features, is great for those who need a more powerful tool to manage their notes.

But the big question remains: is there a large enough market for the NotePin? In an age where smartphones can handle so many tasks, some might wonder if an extra device is necessary. However, for professionals like Heater, who deal with constant note-taking and transcription, the NotePin could be a valuable addition to their toolkit.

As Heater puts it, “Plaud’s product feels like a solution to real issues. These are issues I deal with all the time as a journalist.” For people in similar fields, the NotePin may quickly become a must-have device.

Final Thoughts

Plaud.AI’s NotePin is designed with a specific purpose in mind: to make note-taking and transcribing easier for professionals. With its easy-to-use design, ChatGPT-powered transcription, and compact size, it solves many of the common problems journalists and other note-takers face. While it may not be a product for everyone, it offers real value to those who need fast, accurate transcription tools.

For those constantly in meetings, interviews, or conferences, the NotePin could become a go-to gadget. With further improvements, like adding clickable transcriptions, it has the potential to become an essential tool for anyone who relies on accurate notes to get their work done efficiently.