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AI note takers for Zoom, Google Meet and Teams: built-in, bot or on-device?

There are three ways an AI can take notes in your calls. They differ in who can see it, which meetings it works in, and where your audio goes.

Guide6 min readUpdated The Shin teamAI note takers Zoom Google Meet Microsoft Teams
In short
  • Built-in AI (Zoom AI Companion, Gemini in Meet, Teams recap) needs the right paid plan and works only inside that platform.
  • Bot-based tools join the call as a participant; everyone can see them.
  • On-device tools capture audio from your computer or phone; nothing joins the call.
  • Whichever you use, tell people the meeting is being transcribed.

1. The platform's own AI

Zoom AI Companion on paid Zoom Workplace plans, Gemini's 'Take notes for me' in Google Meet, and intelligent recap in Teams (Teams Premium or Copilot). See our guides to Zoom, Google Meet and Teams.

Good: no extra app, admin-managed. Limits: only works on that platform, usually needs the host's licence, and you depend on the host turning it on.

2. A bot that joins the call

Many AI note takers send a virtual participant into the meeting through the platform's integration. It records and transcribes, then sends notes afterwards.

Good: works across platforms, visible to everyone (which helps consent). Limits: a named bot in the participant list changes how some people speak, some hosts and organisations block bots, and in-person conversations aren't covered.

3. On-device capture, no bot

A newer approach captures the audio playing on your computer (and your microphone) directly. Granola works this way, transcribing from device audio without a participant joining (Granola), and Wispr Flow's Notetaker, launched in August 2026, takes a similar route on Mac (TechCrunch).

Good: works in any app and in person, nothing appears in the call. Limits: because nothing is visible, consent is entirely on you. Say it out loud. More in bot vs bot-free note takers.

What to check before choosing

  • Which platforms and in-person meetings it covers.
  • Whether audio is stored or deleted after transcription, and where.
  • Whether your conversations are used to train models.
  • Speaker names: does it know who said what?
  • Our privacy checklist has ten questions to ask any vendor.

Questions people ask

What is the best AI note taker for Zoom?
It depends on your plan and needs. Zoom's own AI Companion is included on paid Zoom Workplace plans; third-party tools either join as a bot or capture audio on your device and also work on other platforms.
Can an AI note taker work without joining the call?
Yes. On-device tools capture your computer's audio and microphone directly, so no participant joins the meeting.
Do AI note takers work for in-person meetings?
On-device and mobile tools can, and Google Meet added in-person 'Take notes' in August 2026. Bot-based tools need a video call to join.
Do I have to tell people an AI is taking notes?
You should, and in many places the law requires consent to record or transcribe. With bot-free tools, telling people is entirely your responsibility.

Sources

  1. How to use AI to take meeting notes — Granola blog
  2. Wispr Flow launches a Granola-styled meeting notetaker — TechCrunch
  3. Take notes for me for Google AI Pro and Ultra — Google blog, 29 June 2026
  4. Intelligent recap for calls and meetings — Microsoft Learn

Checked 11 November 2026. Spotted something out of date? Write to master@theshin.ai.

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