Otter.ai expands transcription to 2 new languages, with more on the way

Otter.ai expands transcription services: Otter.ai, a leading AI-powered transcription service, has announced the addition of Spanish and French language support to its platform, broadening its appeal to a global audience.

• The expansion allows users to transcribe audio in real-time for both in-person and virtual meetings on popular platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet.
• Users can now interact with Otter’s AI Chat feature in their preferred language, asking follow-up questions about the transcriptions.
• Switching between languages is straightforward, requiring only a simple change in the settings menu.

Enhanced accuracy and industry leadership: Otter.ai claims its transcription quality surpasses that of industry-leading models, including OpenAI’s Whisper.

• Sam Liang, co-founder and CEO of Otter.ai, expressed pride in the company’s advancements in AI-powered transcription technology.
• The improved accuracy aims to meet the growing demands of a diverse, global user base.

Practical applications: Otter.ai’s service offers valuable solutions for various professional and personal scenarios.

• The tool is particularly useful for transcribing lengthy lectures, talks, or briefings that may need to be referenced later.
• Journalists and researchers can benefit from the service for interview transcriptions, streamlining their workflow.

Current limitations and future plans: While the new language support expands Otter.ai’s capabilities, some constraints remain.

• At launch, the service will only provide transcription, not translation, meaning speakers must use the language they want to be transcribed.
• French and Spanish transcriptions are available on the web and in Otter’s mobile apps for both Android and iOS devices.
• The company offers multiple subscription tiers, including a free option, to cater to different user needs.
• Otter.ai has announced plans to introduce support for additional languages throughout 2025, further expanding its global reach.

Implications for the transcription industry: Otter.ai’s expansion into multiple languages signals a growing trend in AI-powered language services.

• This development could potentially disrupt traditional transcription services and increase competition among AI-powered alternatives.
• As accuracy improves and language support expands, such tools may become increasingly valuable for businesses, educational institutions, and individuals operating in multilingual environments.