Last week, I found Matt Wolfe’s review of four different tech events—GTC, GDC, gatherings for Convey, and Fall AI/Mini Max. With countless conversations and keynotes to track, I decided to watch his experiment with AI wearables to help manage this information overload. These devices promise to record everything and use AI to summarize conversations for later reference.
Being the experimenter, Matt didn’t just try one — he tested five different options simultaneously: the B pendant, Compass wearable, Plod note pen, Limitless pendant, and the Otter app on my phone. Here’s what I discovered after a week of real-world testing at conferences.
The Contenders: Price and Subscription Models
All these devices follow a similar business model – an upfront hardware cost followed by a subscription for full functionality:
- Compass ($99): Includes 10 hours of free recording monthly; unlimited usage costs $14-19/month
- Plod Note Pen ($152): Offers five free hours monthly; AI chat capabilities require $8/month; unlimited recording is $20/month
- The B ($50): The most affordable option with a $12/month premium plan for advanced features
- Limitless Pendant ($199): Includes 20 free hours monthly; unlimited recording costs $29/month
- Otter App (Free): Provides 300 minutes monthly on the free plan; 20 hours costs $8.33/month with no additional hardware needed
The pricing structures reveal an essential truth: these companies aren’t just selling hardware – they’re selling ongoing AI services that require subscription revenue to maintain.
Usability and Design: Wearability Matters
The physical design of these devices significantly impacted my experience:
The Compass was frustratingly bare-bones, arriving without instructions or accessories. Despite its 4.6 App Store rating, I couldn’t get it to work correctly – recordings never processed successfully.
The Plod Note Pen impressed me with its versatility, offering multiple wearing options including a magnetic clip, necklace attachment, and wristband. However, it suffered from accidental recordings and mediocre battery life that couldn’t last through a full conference day.
The B pendant (my prototype version) had phenomenal battery life – it recorded continuously for two days without me even realizing it was on! This was both impressive and slightly concerning from a privacy perspective.
The Limitless Pendant felt awkward to wear, and its attachment options were limited. Its battery barely lasted a day, requiring nightly charging. As the least obtrusive option, I clipped it to my conference badge.
AI Capabilities: The Real Differentiator
The software experience varied dramatically between devices:
The B’s app created impressive daily summaries with key takeaways, locations, and even attempted to extract facts about me from conversations. However, it frequently misattributed nearby conversations as my own, creating some bizarre summaries.
The B thought I was “questioned about interest in real estate investing” and had “bowled a near-perfect game” – neither of which happened! It had picked up background conversations and a YouTube video I watched.
The Plod app created detailed mind maps of conversations, summarized key points, and offered AI-powered chat functionality to query my recordings. Its transcription accuracy was good, though the chat feature experienced technical issues during my testing.
The Limitless app provided basic transcription with minimal bells and whistles. Its AI chat feature worked adequately for simple queries about recorded conversations.
The Otter app matched many features of the dedicated devices but required me to keep my phone nearby and inactive during recordings to avoid interference.
The DIY Alternative
For the budget-conscious, there’s a less expensive route: a basic voice recorder ($30) paired with AI transcription services. After recording, you can upload files to:
- Otter (3 free uploads)
- Eleven Labs (2.5 free hours monthly)
- AssemblyAI ($50 in free credits)
- Descript (1 free hour monthly)
- OpenAI’s Whisper API (for the technically inclined)
This approach costs less, requires more manual work, and lacks the seamless experience of dedicated wearables.
The Social Factor: Explaining Your Recording Device
The biggest challenge wasn’t technical but social. Wearing these devices led to awkward conversations about what I was recording and why. Despite being transparent about my use, explaining that I was recording conversations made some people visibly uncomfortable.
This social friction, combined with the hassle of charging multiple small devices and the risk of losing them (I misplaced my B pendant in San Francisco), represents the real cost of using these technologies.
My Verdict
If I had to choose one, I’d lean toward the B pendant. Its exceptional battery life, affordable price ($50), and clean app interface make it compelling despite occasionally misattributing nearby conversations as my own. The Plod Note Pen comes in second with its versatile wearing options and solid transcription, though its battery life needs improvement.
Are these devices worth it? That depends on how much you value having searchable records of your conversations and meetings. For frequent conference-goers, journalists, or people who struggle to take notes while engaging in conversation, they could be game-changers. For occasional use, the subscription costs might be hard to justify.
The technology is promising but still maturing. As AI improves and these devices become more socially acceptable, they may become as common as smartwatches – but we’re not quite there yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do these AI wearables record everything continuously or only when activated?
Most of these devices can be set to record continuously or activated manually. The B pendant demonstrated impressive continuous recording capability, functioning for two full days without recharging. However, devices like the Plod Note Pen require manual activation by touching and holding until you feel a vibration, though accidental recordings can occur.
Q: Are there privacy concerns with wearing devices that record conversations?
Yes, there are significant privacy considerations. While I was transparent about wearing recording devices, they sometimes captured conversations from people nearby who weren’t aware they were being recorded. Additionally, wearing these devices often leads to awkward social situations where you must explain what you’re recording and why. Always check local laws regarding consent for recording conversations.
Q: How accurate are the transcriptions from these AI wearables?
The transcription quality varies between devices but is generally good enough to capture the essence of conversations. Background noise at conferences can affect accuracy. The devices are designed to optimize for battery life rather than audio quality, so you shouldn’t expect studio-quality recordings. The AI summarization features help compensate for transcription imperfections by extracting key points.
Q: Which device offers the best value, considering upfront costs and subscription fees?
The B pendant offers the best value at $50 for the hardware and $12/month for premium features. The Otter app is also cost-effective if you don’t mind using your phone, with a free tier and premium plans starting at $8.33/month. The Limitless Pendant is the most expensive option at $199 plus $29/month for unlimited recording, making it difficult to justify unless you need its specific features.
Q: Could I achieve similar results with a basic voice recorder and AI transcription services?
Yes, a basic voice recorder ($30) paired with services like Eleven Labs, AssemblyAI, or Descript can provide similar functionality at a lower cost. This DIY approach requires more manual work to upload and process recordings, but offers more flexibility in choosing transcription services. This option also frees your phone for other uses during meetings or conferences, which is an advantage over app-based solutions.
