Otter, a conference assistant powered by AI that provides real-time transcription services for meetings, has introduced Meeting GenAI, a new suite of AI tools designed to enhance the meeting experience. The GenAI features include an AI chatbot for retrieving information on past meetings, a team-friendly AI conversation function, and a meeting overview to summarize key points without the need to review the entire transcript.
These new AI functionalities cater primarily to professionals utilizing Otter in a work environment, although journalists and students could also leverage AI for documenting discussions or lectures. Otter’s advancements aim to supplement or replace existing AI offerings from platforms like Google Duet, Microsoft Copilot, and Zoom AI Companion.
Sam Liang, the CEO of Otter, drew inspiration for these AI tools from his hectic schedule, managing up to 30 sessions per week and occasionally facing double bookings. Liang highlighted the convenience of Otter’s AI bot for recording meetings, enabling users to stay informed even when unable to attend multiple simultaneous meetings.
Users can now access AI-generated summaries of meeting topics, featuring the initial paragraph and action items. Otter customers can interact with an AI assistant to inquire about previous meetings or related events.
Furthermore, Otter users can engage with the AI bot to retrieve specific details from meetings, such as quotes from the Chief Marketing Officer or changes in meeting start times. Liang emphasized that while other platforms offer similar AI meeting features, Otter’s version is more comprehensive and powerful, allowing users to query their entire meeting history.
Another notable feature is the AI bot’s integration into Otter’s chat sessions, enabling seamless interaction within group conversations. Users can pose questions to the AI bot during chats, facilitating real-time information retrieval and enhancing collaboration.
Otter prioritizes data security by storing information in the cloud while ensuring restricted access to meeting data. The AI capabilities are available across various devices, including laptops and smartphones, without compromising user privacy. Otter affirms that customer data is not utilized to train its AI models, maintaining transparency and user trust.
Unlike Microsoft’s Copilot, which requires an annual fee of $360, Otter’s GenAI tools are accessible to users on both the free and Business plans without additional charges, emphasizing inclusivity and affordability.
