Vocci AI has developed a smart ring that can record meetings and generate transcripts, supporting over 100 languages, with manual activation to address privacy concerns. Made of aerospace-grade titanium, it offers about 8 hours of recording and is designed for professional use, with preorders starting in February and shipping in April.
SwitchBot unveiled the AI MindClip at CES 2026, a wearable microphone that records, transcribes, and summarizes speech, aiming to assist users by creating reminders and extracting useful data from conversations, though its availability and cost are still unknown.
The Gemini app now supports uploading audio files on Android, iOS, and web, allowing users to analyze and transcribe audio up to 10 minutes for free or 3 hours with a subscription, enhancing its multimedia capabilities alongside existing video support.
Anker has announced the Soundcore Work, a tiny coin-sized AI-powered voice recorder that can transcribe, summarize, and highlight important moments from conversations, featuring GPT-4.1 technology, a long battery life, and a subscription service for additional features, launching in September.
Plaud has upgraded its credit card-sized AI note-taker, the Plaud Note Pro, with enhanced audio pickup, a display, longer battery life, and new features like call detection and highlighting, offering improved recording and summarization capabilities for $179, with preorder options available.
This study explores how chromatin structure influences hypertranscription during early embryonic development, utilizing extensive sequencing datasets and advanced genomic analysis tools to understand the interplay between chromatin architecture and gene expression in embryos.
A tech journalist tested the Plaud NotePin, a wrist-worn AI voice recorder, for a week and found it to be a well-designed, convenient device but hampered by high costs, slow cloud-based processing, and better alternatives like on-device transcription apps such as Google Recorder. Despite its features, the device's price and reliance on subscriptions make it a less attractive option compared to using existing smartphones with free apps.
Apple's new speech-to-text APIs in iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe outperform rival tools like Whisper, processing large video files significantly faster through on-device processing, which could revolutionize transcription efficiency for users handling extensive multimedia content.
The Nintendo Switch 2's Game Chat feature can transcribe all spoken words during online play, including profanity, allowing users to see their language in text form. The feature is accessible to up to 12 players, free until March 31, 2026, and enhances communication for users with different needs. Despite the potential for naughty words, it remains a valuable tool for accessibility and communication.
Scientists at EMBL Heidelberg have created the first real-time 'molecular movie' using single-molecule multi-colour fluorescence microscopy to observe interactions between RNA polymerase and ribosomes during transcription and translation in bacteria. This breakthrough provides insights into how these processes are coupled, potentially aiding in the development of new antibiotics by targeting these interactions. The study highlights the importance of basic research in understanding cellular mechanisms and combating antibiotic resistance.
WhatsApp has launched a new feature that transcribes voice messages into text, making it easier for users to read messages when they can't listen to audio. Initially tested with beta users, this feature is now available globally, supporting English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Russian. Transcriptions are processed on-device, ensuring privacy. This update follows Apple's similar feature in iMessage, which supports more languages. Users need the latest app version to access this feature.
WhatsApp has introduced a new feature that transcribes voice messages into text, allowing users to read messages in noisy environments. The transcription is done on-device, ensuring end-to-end encryption and privacy. Users can enable or disable this feature and select their preferred language in the app settings. Initially available in select languages, the feature will roll out globally in the coming weeks.
WhatsApp is launching a new feature that transcribes voice messages into text, making it easier for users to read messages when they can't listen to them. This feature will be available globally for Android and iOS users in the coming weeks, with initial language support including English, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian, and Hindi. The transcription is done on-device to ensure privacy, and the feature can be enabled in the app's settings. Language support is expected to expand over time.
The Plaud Note is a sleek, credit card-sized voice recorder that offers high-quality audio recording and transcription services. It features MagSafe compatibility, noise-cancellation, and a user-friendly app for transcription and summarization. While it lacks on-device transcription and has a bespoke charging cable, its overall performance and design make it a standout device for $199 during Prime Day.
Apple's iOS 17.4 update introduces a new feature that allows users to access transcripts of their favorite podcast episodes directly within the Podcast app, enhancing the overall podcast experience. The transcripts are available for episodes in English, French, German, or Spanish and can be viewed independently or in sync with the audio. This update also benefits podcast creators by providing automatically generated transcripts for their episodes at no extra charge, improving accessibility and engagement with their content.