Live data from Hacker News

Tell HN: Otter.ai bot recording meetings without consent

news.ycombinator.com

151–160 of 191 posts

Re: Tell HN: Otter.ai bot recording meetings without consent

#151

We are building a privacy-first transcription & recording solution. Sign up at https://www.rewind.ai for early access or if you are super eager email me at dan@ at the domain above.

Unless it's entirely self-hostable and/or runs entirely locally on the user's machine, it's a hard pass from me. Also, this marketing copy makes your product sound a lot more like some kind of AI hype scam than an actual product: > What if we could use technology to augment our memory the same way a hearing aid can augment our hearing? This question is why we founded Rewind. > > Our vision is to give humans perfect m…

> Unless it's entirely self-hostable and/or runs entirely locally on the user's machine, it's a hard pass from me.

It runs locally on your machine.

> Also, this marketing copy makes your product sound a lot more like some kind of AI hype scam than an actual product

Yea, I can see your perspective. We're still in stealth mode so will be more forthcoming soon. For more context, here is the full founding story:

I started to go deaf in my 20s. When I turned 30, a hearing aid changed my life. To lose a sense and gain it back again feels like gaining a superpower. Ever since that moment, I’ve been on a hunt for ways technology can augment human capabilities and give us superpowers.

That hunt ultimately led me to memory. Studies show 90% of memories are forgotten after a week. Just like going deaf, our memory gets worse as we get older. But does it have to? If we have hearing aids for hearing and glasses for vision, what’s the equivalent for memory?

What if we could use technology to augment our memory the same way a hearing aid can augment our hearing? This question is why we founded Rewind. Our vision is to give humans perfect memory. We are building a search engine for your life.

Re: Tell HN: Otter.ai bot recording meetings without consent

#152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Unless it's entirely self-hostable and/or runs entirely locally on the user's machine, it's a hard pass from me. Also, this marketing copy makes your product sound a lot more like some kind of AI hype scam than an actual product: > What if we could use technology to augment our memory the same way a hearing aid can augment our hearing? This question is why we founded Rewind. > > Our vision is to give humans perfect m…

That was a pretty good Black Mirror episode!

Fantastic episode! “The Entire History of You”

The biggest difference is that I believe we would all be more honest with one another if we had perfect memory.

It would prevent more marital strife than it would create.

Re: Tell HN: Otter.ai bot recording meetings without consent

#153

> Are there other, more privacy oriented transcription services anyone can recommend? Yes. Try https://aliceapp.ai , the iOS app's in the AppStore: https://aliceapp.ai/app . I created this specifically to be as privacy conscious as possible. There's a small, but strong team of engineers behind this and I'm the primary investor. It's not perfect, but works pretty well, with many relying on it everyday. From the FAQs:…

$3/hour or more!??! That is insane. Anything more than $1/month is a rip-off.

Google Cloud is priced at $2.16/h if you want to request privacy.

Re: Tell HN: Otter.ai bot recording meetings without consent

#154
post #15

I just deleted my account because of that, also they share conversations with everyone in the meeting by DEFAULT, it wasn't nice receiving a message from a co-worker telling me that he received an email with the transcription it generated.

If some of the participants are located in the EU this is a GDPR violation.

If any of the participants are in many US states including California, this is also likely illegal.

https://www.romanolaw.com/2022/05/09/are-recorded-conversati....

Re: Tell HN: Otter.ai bot recording meetings without consent

#156

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That was a pretty good Black Mirror episode!

Fantastic episode! “The Entire History of You” The biggest difference is that I believe we would all be more honest with one another if we had perfect memory. It would prevent more marital strife than it would create.

I hope you're right, because that world is probably coming, but to play devil's advocate:

The biggest difference is that I believe we would all be more honest with one another if we had perfect memory.

This reminds me of Mark Zuckerberg believing the world would be a better place if we couldn't have multiple identities, because multiple identities showed a lack of integrity.

It would prevent more marital strife than it would create.

It depends on which way the causality goes in "forgive and forget"!

Re: Tell HN: Otter.ai bot recording meetings without consent

#157
post #15

I just deleted my account because of that, also they share conversations with everyone in the meeting by DEFAULT, it wasn't nice receiving a message from a co-worker telling me that he received an email with the transcription it generated.

Same, deleted my account over this. One of the most comically egregious UX fuckups I’ve ever seen.

Maya Angelou is apposite: “When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.”

Re: Tell HN: Otter.ai bot recording meetings without consent

#158
post #58

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The more uncomfortable truth is that I'd rather be able to record on a separate device because I will get in trouble for it if it comes to light. It is legal in my region, but people will be (very rightfully) creeped out by it and are unlikely to ever buy my short term memory sob story. OP mentioned multitasking so maybe they had a similar version of this problem. People aren't going to be happily recorded just for t…

> It is legal in my region, but people will be (very rightfully) creeped out by it and are unlikely to ever buy my short term memory sob story. Okay, so maybe it's best if you don't do it then?

No, because no harm is done once I delete the files after looking over the notes, and I am able to perform my job far better than otherwise. It's just that from an outside perspective it is unlikely to sound innocuous despite being so.

It's a bit like those 'wait I can explain' situations in sitcoms.

Re: Tell HN: Otter.ai bot recording meetings without consent

#159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If some of the participants are located in the EU this is a GDPR violation.

If any of the participants are in many US states including California, this is also likely illegal. https://www.romanolaw.com/2022/05/09/are-recorded-conversati... .

There are also call-recording issues in all-party consent states [1]. The transcript not only shows recording, it could also be used as evidence that consent was never sought.

[1] https://recordinglaw.com/party-two-party-consent-states/

Re: Tell HN: Otter.ai bot recording meetings without consent

#160

Earlier quoted context omitted.

TBH, the pro-business blatantly illegal hot takes here on HN are expected. Because some company figured out a 'hack' to make more money, somehow turns from illegal to "legal". And so many users here will defend that. In this case, it's violating interstate wiretapping laws and state-based 2 party consent laws. But.. they just squint hard and go "Hey we can violate the law and make MORE money". Uber is exactly that. S…

Change by definition requires breaking established rules and is how societies grow. Normal part of the process.

change doesn't require breaking established laws, however, and that's what we're talking about
Post reply on HN