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Transcribing and translating audio has always been a time-consuming task. Whether you’re a journalist capturing interviews, a business recording meetings, or a content creator repurposing podcasts, turning audio into text can be tedious. That’s where technology has stepped in. With advancements in artificial intelligence, audio-to-text AI solutions have become more accessible and efficient than ever. But how do they compare to human transcription?
Both audio-to-text AI and human transcription services have their strengths and weaknesses. Some prioritize speed while providing basic accuracy, while others focus on jargon and confidentiality. So, which one is better? Let’s break it down.
AI transcription tools have rapidly evolved, offering real-time and cost-effective solutions for individuals and businesses. Here’s a closer look at their advantages and drawbacks.
1. Speed and Efficiency
One of the biggest advantages of using AI transcription is speed. AI tools can transcribe hours of audio in just a few minutes, making them ideal for those who need quick results. This is particularly beneficial for live events, webinars, and business meetings where real-time transcription is valuable.
2. Cost-Effectiveness
AI transcription services are significantly cheaper than human transcription. Many platforms offer affordable subscription-based models, making them accessible for individuals and small businesses that may not have the budget for professional transcriptionists.
3. Scalability
Need to transcribe hundreds or thousands of hours of audio? No problem. Audio-to-text AI transcription can handle large volumes of content without requiring additional resources. This is particularly useful for companies dealing with various events, podcasts, or e-learning materials.
4. Integration with Other Technologies
AI transcription tools often integrate with other software, such as video conferencing platforms. This makes it easier to use transcription in a variety of workflows without manually exporting and importing files.
Check out our Wordly Translation Partners page to see all the video conferencing platforms we integrate with.
1. Accuracy Challenges
While AI has improved significantly, it may still sometimes struggle with accents, background noise, and complex terminology. If an AI model hasn’t been trained on a specific industry’s jargon, it may misinterpret key terms, leading to errors in the transcription.
Solution: Look for audio-to-text AI solutions that include a built-in customizable glossary to help improve accuracy.
2. Lack of Context Understanding
AI can transcribe words, but it doesn’t always grasp the meaning behind them. For example, it might struggle with homophones (words that sound the same but have different meanings), sarcasm, or regional slang, which can lead to inaccuracies that a human would easily catch. This, again, depends on the AI tool you use.
Solution: Test potential audio-to-text AI solutions to ensure they accurately manage these types of words.
3. Limited Punctuation and Formatting
Although AI can insert basic punctuation, it often struggles with structuring text naturally. Sentences may be too long or incorrectly punctuated, making them difficult to read without manual editing.
Solution: Test potential audio-to-text AI solutions to make sure they deliver high-quality punctuation.
4. Privacy and Security Concerns
When using AI transcription services, data is often processed in the cloud. This raises concerns about data security, especially for businesses handling sensitive information. While some platforms prioritize security, it’s crucial to check where and how your data is stored.
Solution: Ask your audio-to-text AI solution provider what security and privacy processes they adhere to.
Human transcription was once the gold standard for accuracy and context. Professional transcriptionists bring a level of understanding that some AI tools can’t quite replicate. But human services come with their challenges, too, and as advancements in AI are increasing, the cracks in human transcription are starting to show.
1. Higher Accuracy and Context Awareness
A trained transcriptionist can understand accents, industry-specific jargon, and nuances in speech. This results in fewer errors and a more readable final transcript. Humans can also detect when a speaker misspeaks and make corrections accordingly.
2. Adaptability to Different Audio Conditions
Background noise? Multiple speakers talking over each other? A professional transcriptionist can navigate these challenges effectively. They can distinguish voices, clarify unclear words, and even include notes where necessary.
3. Confidentiality and Customization
Some transcription services offer secure, confidential transcriptions with agreements in place to protect sensitive information. This is especially useful for highly-regulated industries such as Finance or Medical.
1. Time-Consuming
Unlike audio-to-text AI, which can generate transcripts almost instantly, human transcription takes significantly longer. A professional transcriber typically requires four to six hours to transcribe one hour of audio, depending on the complexity of the recording.
2. Higher Costs
Human transcription services are significantly more expensive than AI alternatives. Rates vary based on factors like turnaround time, complexity, and required accuracy. This can make it less practical for businesses needing fast, high-volume transcription at a lower cost.
3. Limited Scalability
If you need hundreds or thousands of hours of audio transcribed, human transcription isn’t always a feasible option. Hiring multiple transcribers can drive up costs, and the process remains slower than AI transcription.
4. Availability and Turnaround Time
Hiring a human transcriptionist means working around availability and deadlines. While AI can deliver a transcript within minutes, humans require scheduled work hours, breaks, and time to proofread their work.
Now that we’ve looked at the pros and cons, the big question remains: should you go with AI or human transcription?
If you are in a highly-regulated industry, such as Healthcare, human transcription may be the best option to avoid any risk.
However, for the majority of use cases where you need a fast, budget-friendly solution for basic transcription, AI is the way to go. It’s perfect for meetings and events, including large-scale ones, where you want to offer live captions, meeting notes, and quick transcriptions. When you use the right tool, AI transcription offers relatively high accuracy.
Audio-to-text AI is revolutionizing transcription, making it faster and more accessible. While it has limitations, it’s an excellent tool for most use cases. While human transcription is still considered highly accurate, advancements in AI technology have made it a less essential option for many industries.
Ultimately, the best choice depends on your specific needs. Whether you opt for AI, human transcription, or a combination of both, the goal is the same—turning spoken words into clear, accurate text that serves your purpose.
Schedule a personalized demo to see how Wordly Audio to Text AI can make your multilingual meetings and events more engaging and accessible for everyone.
