Apple could bring AI transcription to voice memos and notes

Apple’s plans for AI on the iPhone could bring real-time transcription to its Voice Memos and Notes apps, according to a report of AppleInsider. The new feature is expected to arrive with iOS 18 and will allow you to view a transcript of your audio recordings in either app.

Although Notes currently does not allow you to record audio, a separate rumor from AppleInsider suggests that Apple plans to add this feature in iOS 18 as well. Transcribing audio in either app seems especially useful for students or journalists, who can save time transcribing a long lecture or interview. It should also be useful for anyone who just wants a quick look at their voice memos without having to listen to their recordings.

As for Notes, Apple plans to go beyond transcriptions by adding AI-powered summaries. The company can add an option to generate a text summary of the recorded audio, AppleInsider reports. Audio transcription services like Otter offer similar features, but putting the feature directly on the iPhone can help reduce reliance on third-party apps.

During an earnings call earlier this month, Apple CEO Tim Cook emphasized that the company’s AI capabilities will have an “unwavering focus on privacy.” Apple’s own research papers suggest that the company will process simple AI requests directly on the iPhone, while sending more complex requests to a third-party server.

Notes and Voice Memos aren’t the only apps getting the AI ​​treatment in iOS 18. Other reports indicate that Apple is planning to introduce more AI features to Siri, which could eventually analyze and summarize text in the Messages app. It can even add a new web page summary feature in Safari.