{{Short description|Transcription software company}} {{Infobox company | name = Otter.ai, Inc. | logo = Otter.ai_company_logo.png | type = Private | predecessor = AISense | location = Mountain View, California, United States | foundation = {{Start date and age|2016}} | founders = Sam Liang, Yun Fu | key_people = Sam Liang, CEO | industry = Transcription software | products = Otter transcription software for meeting notes | revenue = | num_employees = | parent = | homepage = {{Official URL}} }}
'''Otter.ai, Inc.''' is an American transcription software company based in Mountain View, California. The company develops speech to text transcription applications using artificial intelligence and machine learning. Its software, called Otter, shows captions for live speakers, and generates written transcriptions of speech.<ref name=cnet1>{{cite web |last1=Solsman |first1=Joan E. |title=To make transcripts is to hate transcripts, but mobile app Otter does it free |url=https://www.cnet.com/news/otters-free-app-brings-voice-transcripts-into-the-mobile-ai-age/ |website=CNET |language=en |date=2018-03-03 |accessdate=2020-07-01 |archive-date=2020-12-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204055320/https://www.cnet.com/news/otters-free-app-brings-voice-transcripts-into-the-mobile-ai-age/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
While Otter's software has been praised for its functionality, it is also the subject of privacy concerns, including allegations that the company records users' conversations without consent.
==History== Otter.ai was founded as AISense in 2016 by Sam Liang and Yun Fu, two computer science engineers with a long history of working with artificial intelligence.<ref name=venture1>{{cite web |url=https://venturebeat.com/2019/03/12/aisense-launches-otter-for-teams-a-collaborative-voice-transcription-service-for-enterprises/ |title=Otter for Teams brings collaborative voice transcription to enterprises |website=Venturebeat |date=2019-03-12 |accessdate=2020-07-01 |archive-date=2022-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323075132/https://venturebeat.com/2019/03/12/aisense-launches-otter-for-teams-a-collaborative-voice-transcription-service-for-enterprises/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.idgconnect.com/interviews/1505053/otter-ai-ceo-zoom-add-probably |title=Otter.ai CEO on the Zoom add-on you probably need |website=IDG Connect |date=2020-05-18 |accessdate=2020-07-01 |archive-date=2020-08-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808121227/https://www.idgconnect.com/interviews/1505053/otter-ai-ceo-zoom-add-probably |url-status=live }}</ref>
In January 2018, the company announced a partnership with Zoom Video Communications to transcribe video meetings post-conference.<ref name=zdnet1>{{cite web |last1=Hiner |first1=Jason |title=AI breakthrough: Otter.ai app can transcribe your meetings in real time, for free |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/ai-breakthrough-otter-ai-app-can-transcribe-your-meetings-in-real-time-for-free/ |website=ZDNet |language=en |date=2018-03-02 |accessdate=2020-07-01 |archive-date=2022-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323075134/https://www.zdnet.com/article/ai-breakthrough-otter-ai-app-can-transcribe-your-meetings-in-real-time-for-free/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In March, the company debuted its first Otter speech translation app at Mobile World Congress.<ref name=zdnet1/> It was available for free for Google's Android and Apple's mobile products.<ref name=cnet1/> In October, the company launched Otter for Education, a note taking tool designed for college students.<ref name=venture2>{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2018/10/31/aisenses-otter-for-education-brings-voice-transcription-to-colleges/|title=AISense's Otter for Education brings voice transcription to colleges|website=Venturebeat|date=2018-10-31|accessdate=2020-07-01|archive-date=2022-03-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323075139/https://venturebeat.com/2018/10/31/aisenses-otter-for-education-brings-voice-transcription-to-colleges/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In March 2019, the company launched Otter for Teams, a transcription and storage product for enterprises.<ref name=zdnet2>{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/transcription-service-otter-launches-enterprise-app-for-teams/|title=Transcription service Otter launches enterprise app for teams|website=ZDNET|date=2019-03-12|accessdate=2020-07-02|archive-date=2022-04-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220428025411/https://www.zdnet.com/article/transcription-service-otter-launches-enterprise-app-for-teams/|url-status=live}}</ref>
In January 2020, now doing business as Otter.ai, the company announced another US$10M funding round, led by Japanese mobile phone operator NTT Docomo's Docomo Ventures.<ref name=venture3>{{cite web|url=https://venturebeat.com/2020/01/23/aisense-raises-10-million-for-ai-transcription-tool-otter/|title=Otter.ai raises $10 million for AI transcription tool|website=Venturebeat|date=2020-01-23|accessdate=2020-07-01|archive-date=2022-03-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323075140/https://venturebeat.com/2020/01/23/aisense-raises-10-million-for-ai-transcription-tool-otter/|url-status=live}}</ref> In April, the company announced it was offering Live Notes for Zoom calls.<ref name=techcrunch1>{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/23/otter-ais-newest-feature-offers-live-interactive-transcripts-of-your-zoom-meetings/|title=Otter.ai's newest feature offers live, interactive transcripts of your Zoom meetings|website=Techcrunch|date=2020-01-23|accessdate=2020-07-01|archive-date=2022-03-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323075144/https://techcrunch.com/2020/04/23/otter-ais-newest-feature-offers-live-interactive-transcripts-of-your-zoom-meetings/|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Technology== To develop its speech transcription technology, the company says it combined deep machine learning using millions of hours of audio recordings, which were analyzed to train the software and improve the transcription capabilities. The company says that it uses proprietary algorithms to scour the web for these usable audio segments.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Clarke |first1=Laurie |title=Could Otter.ai's ambitions in voice extend beyond AI transcriptions? |url=https://www.techworld.com/startups/could-otterai-be-betting-on-voice-powered-future-of-ambient-intelligence-3696182/ |website=Techworld |date=2019-03-01 |accessdate=2020-07-02 |archive-date=2019-07-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190708174746/https://www.techworld.com/startups/could-otterai-be-betting-on-voice-powered-future-of-ambient-intelligence-3696182/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=From Your Mouth to Your Screen, Transcribing Takes the Next Step|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/02/technology/automatic-speech-transcription-ai.html|website=NY Times|date=2020-06-13|accessdate=2020-07-01|archive-date=2020-11-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116205018/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/02/technology/automatic-speech-transcription-ai.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
===OtterPilot=== In February 2023, Otter.ai launched an AI meeting assistant called OtterPilot, available to all users, which automates meetings, with an AI-generated summary of key meeting topics, automated capture of images of slides shared during virtual meetings, and real-time meeting notes that can be shared and collaborated on. OtterPilot includes Otter Assistant, which can automatically join meetings on a user's calendar and transcribe conversations.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://techcrunch.com/2023/02/14/otter-ai-launches-otterpilot-its-new-ai-meeting-assistant/ |title=Aisha Malik “Otter.ai launches OtterPilot, its new AI meeting assistant”, TechCrunch, 14 February 2023 |access-date=7 March 2023 |archive-date=17 January 2026 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20260117192017/https://techcrunch.com/2023/02/14/otter-ai-launches-otterpilot-its-new-ai-meeting-assistant/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
== Privacy and security == Otter has been banned by the University of Massachusetts on the basis that the software violates Massachusetts' requirement for all-party consent to record a conversation.<ref name="pcmag Otter Accused of Recording">{{cite news |title=Otter Accused of Recording Meetings Without Consent to Train Its Tech |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/using-otter-notetaker-this-lawsuit-says-it-broke-privacy-laws |access-date=11 September 2025 |work=PCMAG |date=16 August 2025 |language=en |archive-date=11 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250911004714/https://www.pcmag.com/news/using-otter-notetaker-this-lawsuit-says-it-broke-privacy-laws |url-status=live }}</ref> Users have also complained that Otter has joined meetings unasked when linked to a calendar application.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Allyn |first1=Bobby |title=Class-action suit claims Otter AI secretly records private work conversations |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/08/15/g-s1-83087/otter-ai-transcription-class-action-lawsuit |access-date=11 September 2025 |work=NPR |date=15 August 2025 |language=en |archive-date=18 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250918074313/https://www.npr.org/2025/08/15/g-s1-83087/otter-ai-transcription-class-action-lawsuit |url-status=live }}</ref>
In March 2018, technology news site ''ZDNet'' reported issues with Otter.ai's privacy policy, noting that the company could access uploaded recordings and transcriptions. In response, Otter.ai updated its policy and stated that only the company's chief technology officer would allow access to transcriptions, and only in response to a "legitimate user request".<ref name="zdnet3">{{cite web |last1=Whittaker |first1=Zack |date=2018-03-06 |title=Otter, a popular new transcription app, raises privacy red flags |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/otter-popular-new-transcription-app-raises-privacy-red-flags/ |accessdate=2020-07-01 |website=ZDNet |language=en |archive-date=2022-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323075130/https://www.zdnet.com/article/otter-popular-new-transcription-app-raises-privacy-red-flags/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2022, ''Politico'' highlighted further concerns about the privacy practices of Otter.ai after the company queried journalist Phelim Kine<ref name="Kine">{{Cite web|last=Kine|first=Phelim|date=2022-02-16|title=My journey down the rabbit hole of every journalist's favorite app|url=https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/16/my-journey-down-the-rabbit-hole-of-every-journalists-favorite-app-00009216|access-date=2022-02-16|website=POLITICO|language=en|archive-date=2022-04-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220420045953/https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/16/my-journey-down-the-rabbit-hole-of-every-journalists-favorite-app-00009216|url-status=live}}</ref> about the purpose of a meeting transcribed through Otter.ai, which involved a discussion with Mustafa Aksu, a Uyghur human rights advocate. Kine reported receiving an unusual survey from Otter.ai referencing the interview's title, leading to fears of potential surveillance or data leaks. Although Otter.ai confirmed the legitimacy of the survey, they later retracted that statement and advised Kine to ignore it.<ref name="Kine"/>
A 2025 class-action lawsuit in California alleges that Otter.ai records users' conversations without their permission, to use as AI training data.<ref name="pcmag Otter Accused of Recording"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Otter.ai Sued Over Alleged Privacy Violations in California |url=https://www.techtimes.com/articles/311626/20250818/otterai-sued-over-alleged-privacy-violations-california.htm |access-date=11 September 2025 |work=Tech Times |date=18 August 2025 |archive-date=17 September 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250917172437/https://www.techtimes.com/articles/311626/20250818/otterai-sued-over-alleged-privacy-violations-california.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>
==Reception==
Digital media website Mashable and technology publication Fast Company named Otter one of the best apps of 2018.<ref>{{cite web |title=The best apps of 2018 |url=https://mashable.com/article/best-apps-of-2018/#e8KV0leKIiqS |website=Mashable |date=2018-12-15 |accessdate=2020-07-01 |archive-date=2022-03-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220323084625/https://mashable.com/article/best-apps-of-2018#e8KV0leKIiqS |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The 25 best new apps of 2018 |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90283220/the-25-best-new-apps-of-2018 |website=Fast Company |date=2018-12-20 |accessdate=2020-07-02 |archive-date=2022-05-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220502182142/https://www.fastcompany.com/90283220/the-25-best-new-apps-of-2018 |url-status=live }}</ref>
== See also == * DeepL<ref>{{Cite web |title=DeepL Translate: The world's most accurate translator |url=https://www.deepl.com/translator |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=www.deepl.com |language=en |archive-date=2021-12-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211226212834/https://www.deepl.com/Translator |url-status=live }}</ref> * LanguageTool<ref>{{Cite web |title=LanguageTool - Online Grammar, Style & Spell Checker |url=https://languagetool.org/ |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=LanguageTool |language=en |archive-date=2020-10-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201003185835/https://languagetool.org/ |url-status=live }}</ref> * vidby<ref>{{Cite web |title=vidby for translation, dubbing and creation of subtitles service |url=https://vidby.com/ |access-date=2023-06-29 |website=vidby.com |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *{{official website}}
Category:2016 establishments in California Category:Automatic identification and data capture Category:Privately held companies based in Mountain View, California Category:Software companies based in Mountain View, California Category:Software companies established in 2016 Category:Speech recognition Category:Web applications