Aiko is an impressive app for the Apple Vision Pro that offers a robust and high-quality on-device transcription service. Whether you are recording meetings, lectures, or candid conversations, this app transforms speech into text with unparalleled accuracy. One of the standout features of Aiko is that it operates completely locally on your device, meaning that none of your audio data or transcriptions ever leave your device. This is a significant advantage for those who care deeply about their privacy, as the app has been designed to not even connect to the internet.
The transcription capabilities of Aiko are powered by OpenAI’s Whisper, which performs the transcription tasks right on your device, eliminating the need for internet connectivity. It’s worth noting that Aiko has been optimized for high accuracy, even if this comes at the expense of speed. Users with non-ideal audio conditions have found the app to still be impressively accurate; it is a common theme that the app manages to capture spoken content even when there is background noise or suboptimal recording conditions.
What sets Aiko apart from other transcription services is its support for over 100 languages, making it a versatile tool globally. Languages supported range from common ones such as English, Spanish, and Chinese to less widely spoken languages like Malagasy, Latvian, and Sinhala. This extensive language support combined with high accuracy makes it a valuable tool for many users around the world.
Although the application is designed to function optimally on devices with at least 16 GB of RAM, some users have reported that it works reasonably well even with 8 GB of RAM, although at a slower transcription speed. The app can handle various audio file formats, supporting a drag-and-drop functionality that makes it user-friendly.
One constructive point raised by several users involves the app’s inability to function in the background or when the device goes to sleep. This limitation has led to some frustration, especially for users who may receive calls or need to switch tasks during transcription, resulting in lost data. Addressing this issue could significantly enhance the app’s usability.
Another criticism involves the formatting of the transcriptions, specifically the double spacing between sentences. Some users have found this to be cumbersome, requiring additional steps to clean up the text in a separate editor. Incorporating more customization options for text formatting within the app could resolve this issue effectively.
The app also does not support in-app text editing. While this might not be a deal-breaker for everyone, it does mean that users will need to export their transcriptions to a proper text editor for any necessary editing. For now, users will need to rely on external tools to make any adjustments.
For users looking to transcribe foreign languages or mixed-language recordings, Aiko has shown impressive accuracy, even with heavily accented speech and technical jargon. Moreover, the app can transcribe long recordings with consistent quality, which is a rare find in many free transcription services.
Customer reviews reflect a high level of satisfaction with the app’s performance. Many users have praised its ability to transcribe accurately under less than ideal conditions, such as background noise or low-quality audio. The app’s privacy-centric approach and free usage have also been highlighted as significant advantages compared to other paid services that store data in the cloud.
Aiko offers a stellar transcription service complete with robust language support, high accuracy, and a strong commitment to user privacy. While there are areas where the app could improve, particularly in terms of background operation and text formatting customization, it stands out as an exceptionally reliable and user-friendly application. The app’s use of the Whisper model and its local processing capabilities make it a top choice for anyone in need of a dependable transcription service. Whether you are a professional needing accurate meeting transcripts, a student recording lectures, or someone preserving family conversations, Aiko proves to be an invaluable tool.
