AI NotetakerBot notetakers and AI Notetaker, side by side.
A bot joins your call as an extra participant. AI Notetaker records from your own device instead. Here is what that changes.
| Topic | Typical bot notetaker | AI Notetaker |
|---|---|---|
| How it records | A bot account joins the call as a participant. | Records on your own device, from your browser tab and microphone or your system audio. |
| What others see | An extra attendee, often with a notice. | Nothing added to the call. You still need to tell people and get consent. |
| Where the recording lives | On the vendor's servers. | On your device first, before any provider is called. |
| Audio channels | Usually one mixed track. | Your microphone and the meeting's audio are kept separate, so "you" is never guessed. |
| Desktop apps | Depends on the vendor's integrations. | Records system audio and microphone from one desktop app. |
| Who runs the AI | The vendor. | You do: your own provider keys, on your device. |
| Pricing | Commonly a per-seat subscription. | Free with your own keys. A flat monthly price only for cloud sync and team sync. |
| Source code | Usually closed. | Open source under the MIT license. |
Bot notetakers differ from one another. This describes the common pattern, not any single product. Looking at a specific one? Otter.ai, Fireflies.ai, Granola, Fathom.
When a bot is the better choice
A bot can join a scheduled meeting when you are not there, and it needs nothing installed on your computer. If you need notes from calls you will not attend, or you cannot install software, a bot may suit you better. AI Notetaker is for people who are in the call and want their recording to stay under their control.