Plaud, a company specializing in AI-powered note-taking devices, has unveiled the Plaud NotePin S—the latest wearable gadget designed to capture audio and leverage artificial intelligence to process conversations from meetings and daily interactions.
In addition to the new recording device, Plaud announced on Sunday the launch of a desktop application that enables users to record and summarize online meetings without relying on intrusive "meeting bots."
The company designs and sells ultra-slim, lightweight wearables positioned as “memory capsules” that record what users hear and help them recall important discussions. These devices are marketed as valuable tools for both professional and educational settings, allowing individuals to document meetings, lectures, and personal conversations for later review.
“Capturing conversations in a natural way is the most effective method to enhance human capabilities in real-world scenarios,” said Nathan Xu, co-founder and CEO of Plaud. “Our mission is to augment human intelligence, and this latest innovation reinforces our commitment to that vision.”
The NotePin S represents an upgrade to Plaud’s existing NotePin line—AI-powered clip-on voice recorders first introduced in August.
Like its predecessor, the device is engineered for seamless and intuitive wearability, functioning as a wristband, necklace, pin, or clip-on accessory. It maintains a discreet profile, ensuring minimal visibility during use. As an enhancement over earlier models, the new S version features a dedicated button that allows users to mark key moments during conversations, signaling the onboard AI to prioritize those segments. This functionality enables the system to adjust its analysis focus and deliver more relevant insights accordingly.
Plaud supports transcription in 112 languages with speaker identification and custom vocabulary integration. Users can generate summaries of dialogues and meetings using more than 10,000 templates, mind maps, and workflow integrations. The resulting notes can be easily combined with other content such as images and highlights through Plaud Intelligence, the company’s unified knowledge management service.
A Non-Intrusive Desktop App for Online Meetings
Beyond the new hardware, Plaud has launched Plaud Desktop—a bot-free solution for capturing virtual meetings without requiring third-party participants to join the call.
Plaud Desktop automatically detects when a meeting is in progress on platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams, enabling users to securely start recording live audio with a single click.
Note-taking bots have increasingly become standard in virtual meetings. It's now common to see at least one bot from services like Otter.ai or Fireflies.ai joining calls to automate minute-taking. In some cases, employees even send bots in place of themselves—an emerging trend that introduces friction into collaborative dynamics.
While many are familiar with Zoom fatigue—the exhaustion associated with back-to-back video conferences—the rise of meeting bots has added another layer: “bot fatigue.” Although concerns about transparency persist, a bot-free approach may reduce the psychological barrier caused by seeing an external recorder listed as a participant, which often makes attendees less open and more transactional in their communication.
Conversely, there are growing concerns around data breaches and compliance risks posed by unauthorized note-taking tools during sensitive corporate discussions. Plaud emphasizes that both its software and hardware comply with industry-leading security standards, including ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, and the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
The Plaud NotePin S is now available for $179, while the desktop application is offered as part of the company’s broader service ecosystem.
“What sets Plaud apart is our design for universal applicability—whether in person, over the phone, or on screen. This is how intelligent assistance should flow naturally,” Xu added.
