A surge of AI voice recording devices such as Omi, Bee, and Friend has emerged, designed to capture your voice and enable interaction with an AI chatbot. Bee has been purchased by Amazon, and products like the Stream ring by Sandbar and a novel AI ring from previous Pebble founder Eric Migicovsky are anticipated to debut next year, yet the effectiveness of wearable AI gadgets remains uncertain.

In this landscape, Plaud is flourishing by appealing to professional users with a unique strategy: a credit card-sized recording unit that conveniently fits into your wallet. The company claims to have delivered over a million units, with more than half of its clientele transitioning to pro subscriptions.

The latest version, the Plaud Note Pro, was made available for preorder in August, two years after the initial Note, priced at $179. After a month of using the device, it has become a vital element of my daily essentials — its ultra-slim design facilitates this.

At merely 0.12 inches thick — roughly equivalent to three stacked credit cards — it stands as the slimmest AI recording device available and fits neatly in a wallet or can magnetically attach to the rear of your phone.

The company supplies a wallet-like case and a magnetic ring accessory for MagSafe-compatible phones, allowing you to affix the Note Pro to your iPhone or suitable Android device. Additionally, the device is exceedingly lightweight at 30 grams, so you won’t mind carrying the Note Pro in your wallet.

A significant distinction between Plaud and other AI wearables is that the Note Pro can record audio without needing to be linked to your phone. With 64GB of internal memory, the device can retain a substantial quantity of recordings without needing to transfer them to your phone or upload them to the cloud.

The Plaud Note Pro features four MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) microphones to capture sound from all angles. While the company claims an effective audio range of 16.4 feet, I have successfully recorded discussions at conferences from a considerable distance away from the stage. The device also contains a voice processing unit for noise reduction, voice separation, and echo elimination.

This recording device boasts outstanding battery longevity. I attended a conference earlier this month with a fully charged unit and recorded several interviews and presentations while there. Subsequently, I utilized the device for phone call recordings and personal note-taking. Even after all that usage, the device retained 55% charge after 15 days. The company states that you can achieve 30 hours of continuous recording and 60 days of standby on a single charge.

Plaud’s latest gadget comes with a proprietary charger featuring a USB-C connector on the opposite end. It requires two hours to charge from 0%, preparing you for at least a couple of weeks unless you engage in extensive content recording.

One challenge associated with wearable AI gadgets is the necessity to visually confirm that the device is recording (or has ceased recording). Fortunately, the Plaud Note Pro is equipped with a small display indicating your recording status. You can also use a button during recording to emphasize a speaker’s point, which will be prominently displayed in the AI-generated summary. The screen additionally shows the remaining battery life.

There is a deliberate process involved in recording with this gadget. The device provides haptic feedback for starting and stopping recordings. The visual indicators and the action of pressing the button further assist in communicating to others in the meeting that you are recording the session.

You can simply opt to record sessions and send them to another AI transcription service you utilize. Plaud offers 300 minutes of free transcription each month. The company also allows you to personalize AI-crafted notes with templates tailored for various profiles and tasks. You also have the option to create your own template. The transcription is generally precise, and you can now access the recording, transcription, and notes through a designated website. The company has remedied the issue my previous colleague Brian Heater faced regarding tapping on a word and not hearing the corresponding recording.

While a pendant or pin-type design may be simpler to carry, the card-sized recorder provides superior microphones and more adaptable positioning options. If you frequently attend in-person meetings, investing in the $179 device is definitely worthwhile.