Plaud launches a new AI pin and a desktop meeting notetaker

Hardware maker Plaud launched a new AI note taker called Plaude NotePin S, along with a desktop app that lets you take notes for digital meetings, ahead of this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.

The company first launched its pin-style note-taking device in 2024, which really pleased my former colleague Brian Heater. The new pin brings with it a physical button that allows you to start and stop recording. Additionally, you can tap the button during recording to mark a specific point, just like you can do on the newly launched Plaud Note Pro.

One nice thing about the $179 Plaud NotePin S is that you get a clip, a lanyard, a magnetic pin, and a wristband in the package. That means you can wear the device however you want. The company is also adding Apple Find My support for the PIN code, so you can easily search for the device if you can’t find it.

The core specifications of the device remain the same as the previous generation. There is 64GB of onboard storage with a battery capacity of 20 hours of continuous recording. The device has two MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) microphones that can capture clear audio within a range of 3.5 meters. Users get 300 minutes of transcription per month for free

Compared to the Note Pro, this device has a shorter recording range and a lower battery life. But it is smaller in size to carry with any of the above-mentioned accessories. The company said the pin is suitable for people who are constantly on the go.

This is Plaud’s fourth device and the company has sold more than 1.5 million devices to date. With these devices, the emphasis is on personal meetings. However, Plaud also wants to appeal to note takers such as Granola, Fathom and Fireflies with a new desktop client that works in all meeting apps. The company said the app can detect when a meeting is active and prompt you to capture the transcript.

The Mac app takes notes using system audio to capture the meeting, then structures the transcription into notes using AI. The company introduced multimodal input for note-taking last year with its app that allows users to add images and typed notes along with audio transcription. Plaud also brings that functionality to its desktop app.