Everybody’s suddenly building hardware to take notes on your meetings — but the software’s really the trick.
After gaining attention with its AI-powered voice recorder, Plaud is back with a more ambitious and versatile device: the NotePin. This wearable gadget is designed to be your constant companion, effortlessly recording notes, meetings, and to-do lists, ensuring that nothing slips through the cracks. The NotePin, with its sleek, pill-shaped design and versatile accessory options, draws inspiration from early Fitbits. Whether you choose to wear it as a pendant, pin it to your chest, strap it to your wrist, or clip it anywhere else, the NotePin is built to blend seamlessly into your daily routine.
In the rapidly growing AI wearables market, devices typically fall into one of two categories. First, there are the companionship gadgets like Friend, designed to keep you company and engage in casual conversation. Then, there are productivity-focused devices like Limitless, which prioritize utility over entertainment. Plaud’s NotePin firmly belongs to the latter category, positioning itself as a tool that not only records but also transcribes, summarizes, and extracts actionable insights from every interaction in your day.
Plaud claims the NotePin’s battery can last up to 20 hours of continuous recording, but it’s not meant to be a passive, always-on device. Instead, you’ll need to tap the device to start recording, offering a balance of convenience and privacy. This design choice reflects thoughtful UI development and a commitment to ethical considerations around consent—important in a world where recording others without their knowledge is a sensitive issue.
Plaud’s first product, the Note voice recorder, was already one of the standout AI voice note tools on the market. The Note, which attaches to the back of your phone, is designed to record voice notes or phone calls and then automatically transcribe and summarize them. While the Plaud app can be a bit clunky, the core technology behind it is robust and effective. The NotePin improves upon this foundation by offering a more accessible and user-friendly form factor. With the device now wearable, Plaud hopes that users will find even more opportunities to integrate it into their lives.
The NotePin is priced at $169, with Plaud offering basic AI features for free and a $79 annual subscription for advanced capabilities like summary templates and speaker labeling. Given the target audience for this device, it’s likely that most users will opt for the pro features to fully leverage its potential. Ultimately, the success of the NotePin will hinge on its software. As AI technology continues to evolve, more people are likely to start recording and digitizing vast amounts of their daily lives. It will be up to Plaud and its competitors to determine how best to manage and utilize this data. The promise of perfect memory is alluring, but it’s a challenge that requires precision and innovation to truly deliver.
