I Wore an AI Note-Taker to a Conference I Spoke At. Here's What It Caught.

Is Plaud worth it?

If you're regularly responsible for remembering what happened in a meeting, documenting decisions, or following up with people afterward, I think Plaud is worth considering.

I've used AI note-takers before, but the NotePin solved something that still frustrated me: having to pull out my phone whenever I wanted to capture a conversation. At the retreat, I could simply wear it and keep talking.

It gave me detailed notes, organized conversation threads, and reminders about commitments I'd made.

01I went to Austin to connect with people, not stare at my phone

I recently attended the Top Shelf retreat in Austin, where I was also a speaker. And as much as I love events like these, trying to remember everything afterward gets to me.

You know how it goes. You meet someone interesting, have a great conversation, exchange ideas, and promise to follow up. Then you move on to the next session, the next introduction, the next dinner. By the time you're back at your hotel, you're trying to piece together who said what, which ideas were worth exploring, and what you promised to send to whom.

I've tried using AI note-takers at events before, but pulling out my phone every time I wanted to record something got annoying. I never knew whether the phone would pick everything up, and I didn't particularly want to spend an event with it in my hand.

So this time, I tried something different.

I clipped the Plaud NotePin onto my outfit and used it to capture conversations throughout the retreat.

What I got afterward was more detailed than I expected.

The Plaud NotePin clipped onto my outfit at the Top Shelf retreat in Austin. Small enough to wear comfortably and easy to reach when I needed to record.

02Is this you? 5 signs you need a better note-taking system

I think a lot of us have become the unofficial record-keepers at work. Sometimes because it's our job, and sometimes because we're the person who always remembers to follow up. See if any of these sound familiar:

And after using Plaud at the retreat, I realized how much of my attention I'd been giving to the process of capturing conversations.

The real problem with taking notes during meetings

There's a particular kind of mental juggling that happens when you're trying to listen and document a conversation at the same time. You're paying attention to what someone is saying, deciding what's important enough to write down, typing it out, and thinking about what to ask next. If you're leading the meeting, it gets even harder.

And if you're an EA, an operations manager, or the person responsible for making sure everyone follows through, the notes aren't optional. They're part of how you keep things moving. That's why I was interested in Plaud.

03Meet Plaud: An AI note-taker you can wear

Plaud makes dedicated AI recording devices that capture conversations and turn them into transcripts, summaries, and organized notes.

The NotePin is a small wearable device that you can attach using a clip, lanyard, or wristband. Instead of opening an app and holding up your phone, you wear the device and start recording when you need it, with permission from the people involved.

Afterward, you can review the audio, read the transcript, identify speakers, and use the app's AI features to organize what happened.

04Why use a separate device when your phone can already record?

This was one of my biggest questions going in.

My phone already has recording capabilities. I've also used AI note-taking apps. So why would I want another device?

After wearing the NotePin at the retreat, I understood the appeal.

05How to fit Plaud into your actual workday

A tool can have impressive features, but if it doesn't fit into the way you already work, it becomes one more thing to manage. What interests me about Plaud is how you can take a conversation, turn it into something organized, and use that information to move work forward. Here are a few ways I'd approach it depending on your role.

These are suggested workflows, not firsthand tests of every role or integration. Always confirm your company's recording policies and obtain consent before recording.

And when you need to remember something weeks later?

Inside a note, there's an "Ask Plaud about this note" option that lets you ask questions about the recorded conversation. Instead of reading through an entire transcript, you can ask something like:

You should still verify important answers against the transcript or audio, but having a way to question your notes makes them much more useful after the meeting ends.

06I wore Plaud to a retreat I spoke at. Here's what actually happened.

Disclosure: This review is part of a paid partnership with Plaud. The observations below reflect my experience using the NotePin.

First, the setup was surprisingly simple

When I opened the box, everything was laid out clearly. The NotePin comes with different ways to wear it, including a wristband, lanyard, and clip. They attach magnetically, and I figured out how everything snapped together without opening the instruction booklet.

Next, I downloaded the Plaud app. It asked how I planned to use the device, and I selected conferences, internal meetings, and client meetings. It also asked about my role, industry, and seniority level. One thing I appreciated was that the app asked whether I wanted to keep my data private or share it to help improve the product. That was a setting I could turn on or off.

Pairing was straightforward. I pressed and held the record button to turn on the device and connect it. Then the app walked me through a quick tutorial and showed me where to find everything. I chose the clip because it looked seamless with my outfit and was easy to reach.

I haven't tried the wristband or lanyard yet. I'm especially curious about the wristband because it sits farther from your mouth.

(INSERT UNBOXING VIDEO AND SETUP SCREENSHOTS: https://drive.google.com/file/d/13SRrrz2IzQt0fSZMrTNuATijtK9FXFhb/view?usp=sharing

At the retreat, I barely thought about the device

Once I had it clipped on, recording was easy. When I started a conversation I wanted to remember, I could tap the device to record after getting permission. It vibrated once when recording started and twice when it stopped. That small detail made a difference.

At events, I've used AI note-takers that require me to keep pulling out my phone. It's especially annoying in group conversations, where you're trying to stay engaged while wondering whether your phone is picking up everyone's voice. With the NotePin, I never had to use my phone to take notes. I could pay attention to the people around me, ask questions, and participate without constantly managing the recording process.

The battery lasted longer than I expected

I was pleasantly surprised that the NotePin lasted multiple days on a single charge. For a device I wanted to wear throughout an event, that was a big plus. I didn't want to add another thing to my list of devices that needed constant charging.

The real test was what happened afterward

This is where Plaud impressed me most. I've tried other AI note-takers, and the summary I got from Plaud was the most thorough I've seen. I had the full audio recording alongside the transcript, so if I wanted to hear a particular moment again, I could.

The speaker separation also worked well in a group of more than 10 people. I did have to go back and label the speakers myself, but I could distinguish the different voices in the transcript. Then there were a few features I hadn't expected.

The Vibe gave me a short description of the energy in the room. That might sound like a small thing, but a week after an event, when the conversations start to blur together, that context is helpful.

Memorable Moments highlighted quotes worth keeping.

And Things to Remember caught actual follow-ups from my conversations.

One person had offered to host a lunch about AI adoption. Another attendee wanted an email introduction to a women's community in Denver. There was also an attendee WhatsApp group I wanted to remember.

Those are exactly the kinds of details that can disappear after a busy event. Plaud also organized conversation threads and created a visual mind map. I hadn't seen a note-taker do that before, and I loved being able to see the topics laid out visually.

What I'd change

The biggest manual step was labeling speakers. Plaud could separate the voices, but it didn't know who each person was. I still needed to go through and assign names.

I also haven't tested every way of wearing the device or compared its virtual-meeting performance against the software note-takers I've used. So while my experience at the retreat was positive, I'm not going to pretend I've tested every scenario.

Would I keep using it?

Yes, especially for in-person events and conversations where I want to stay engaged without losing the details afterward. The real value for me was the quality of the information I had to work with later. The summaries, follow-ups, and mind map gave me a much better record of the retreat than I would have created manually.

07Is Plaud private enough to use at work?

If you're considering bringing an AI recording device into your workplace, this is one of the first questions you should ask. Work conversations can involve confidential projects, customer information, employee details, financial discussions, and other sensitive material. Before recording anything, you need to understand how that information is handled.

What about encryption and data security?

Plaud states that its platform uses encryption to protect recordings and related information. However, the exact security protections, data storage locations, retention policies, and compliance certifications should be verified against Plaud's current documentation before relying on the device for sensitive workplace conversations.

I also noticed during setup that Plaud gave me a choice about whether to share data to help improve the product. I appreciated having that option, but I would still review the full privacy policy before using the device for confidential work.

Always ask before recording

This matters whether you're using Plaud, your phone, or any other recording tool. Recording laws vary by location, and some places require everyone involved to consent. My recommendation is simple: ask before recording, every time.

At work, check your company's policies too. A participant agreeing to be recorded doesn't automatically mean the recording is permitted under your organization's rules. For especially sensitive discussions, such as employee relations matters or confidential client conversations, get the appropriate internal approval first.

Subject: Request to review Plaud for workplace note-taking

Hi [Name],

I'm interested in using Plaud, an AI recording and note-taking device, to help document approved meetings and organize follow-up tasks.

Before using it for work, could you review whether it meets our security and recording policies?

The main areas I'd like to confirm are:
- What audio, transcripts, and other information the device collects
- How recordings and transcripts are encrypted
- Where the information is stored and how long it's retained
- Which compliance standards and security certifications apply
- Whether the data can be used to train or improve AI models, and what controls are available
- Whether it's approved for use with our company's information

Plaud's security documentation is available here: Trust Center

Thanks!

08Plaud by the numbers

09Plaud vs. the note-taking methods you're probably using now

Here's how the different approaches compare in everyday work.

Features vary by product, plan, device, and software. Confirm the exact capabilities before purchasing.

For me, the biggest difference was being able to capture an in-person conversation without constantly reaching for my phone and then getting organized notes I could actually use afterward.

10Which Plaud is right for your workday? Take the 60-second quiz.

11Who should buy Plaud, and who should skip it?

For my work, especially at events, the NotePin has been a useful addition.

12Frequently asked questions about Plaud

Final thoughts: Would I recommend Plaud?

I went into the Top Shelf retreat wanting a way to capture conversations without spending the entire event taking notes. The NotePin delivered on that for me.

I didn't have to keep pulling out my phone, the battery lasted longer than I expected, and the notes afterward were impressively thorough. What I appreciated most were the details Plaud surfaced that I might otherwise have forgotten: the offer to host an AI adoption lunch, the introduction to a women's community in Denver, and the conversations worth following up on. Those details are why I take notes in the first place.

There are still things I want to test, especially how the NotePin performs in virtual meetings. And I wish speaker identification required less manual work. But for conferences, networking events, and in-person conversations, I can see myself continuing to use it. If those are a regular part of your workday, it's worth a look.

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