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iOS 18.1 Beta Includes Call Recording and Transcribing

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The iOS 18.1 beta that Apple provided to developers today introduces Apple Intelligence, and it includes the feature that allows users to record and transcribe phone calls.

ios-18-1-call-recording-1.jpg

With the update, you can tap on the record button in the top left corner after placing a call. Everyone on the call is notified that the call is being recorded through an audible message. There is no confirmation dialogue, so if a person wanted to not be recorded, they would need to hang up.

Once the call is in progress, the audio is recorded and saved to the Notes app. Recorded phone calls can be opened from Notes, and you can re-listen to the call, view a full transcript, and get a summary from the transcript without having to re-listen to the entire thing.

ios-18-1-call-recording-2.jpg

Summaries are active across the operating system in iOS 18.1, and you can essentially select any text on an iPhone to get a summary of it.

Apple Intelligence is limited to the iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1 developer betas at this time, and the software will be available to the public later this fall.

Article Link: iOS 18.1 Beta Includes Call Recording and Transcribing
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2024/07/29/ios-18-1-call-recording-and-transcribing/
Does anyone know if you can initiate the recording after the call has begun? Especially useful if you are receiving a call and not making it. Also just as a courtesy and ask/tell the person you are recording the call, instead of being all "FU" about it and just doing it.
 
quietstormSD said:
Does anyone know if you can initiate the recording after the call has begun? Especially useful if you are receiving a call and not making it. Also just as a courtesy and ask/tell the person you are recording the call, instead of being all "FU" about it and just doing it.
Click to expand...
From my testing it doesn't appear that you can currently initiate recording on an incoming call. I hope that changes though.
 
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Call recording was originally listed as though it was coming to more devices than just the 15 Pro. Must've been a mistake.
 
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quietstormSD said:
Does anyone know if you can initiate the recording after the call has begun? Especially useful if you are receiving a call and not making it. Also just as a courtesy and ask/tell the person you are recording the call, instead of being all "FU" about it and just doing it.
Click to expand...
for now u have to turn it on for every call........left top corner
 
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Paddle1 said:
Call recording was originally listed as though it was coming to more devices than just the 15 Pro. Must've been a mistake.
Click to expand...

Just hit record in the Notes or Phone apps to capture audio recordings and transcripts. Apple Intelligence generates summaries of your transcripts, so you can get to the most important information at a glance.

This is lifted from the Apple Intelligence preview (via Apple UK online) but on the iOS 18 preview it has this in the footnotes:

  1. Transcription will be available in English (UK, US, Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore), Spanish (US, Mexico, Spain), French (France), German (Germany), Japanese (Japan), Mandarin Chinese (China mainland, Taiwan), Cantonese (China mainland, Hong Kong) and Portuguese (Brazil).
So, I agree, it's either an error on Apple's part OR it's probably coming to iOS 18 compatible devices in the future, regardless of M chips/A17 Pro?
 
Attirex said:
This feature seems like a usability/legal/socially fraught nightmare to me. Not sure why Apple would want to get even near it.
Click to expand...

How? Easy to use, so no usability problem. Announces that the call will be recorded, so there goes the legal question. Socially fraught? This would only be used in a situation where you have good reason, and I don't have a parasocial relationship with businesses, so that also goes out the window.
 
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Does anyone know, will it notify Android users and people with older than 18 iOS version?
 
timemaker27 said:
Works fine but why the hell: 'Everyone on the call is notified that the call is being recorded through an audible message'.......already useless..........and I have to keep using PLAUD.....
Click to expand...

I would provide feedback to make that optional based on the caller's location in the case of one-party consent, but I do wonder if there is a technical reason that such a thing can't be done (e.g. VPN + wifi calling).
 
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Excellent. It looks like the recording can be started and stopped at any time. For example, recording part of a conversation. Is there an audible message "the recording has stopped" if the recording is stopped before the call ends?

Can the caller/s being recorded get a transcript of the call right after the call?

Is there a periodic beep to remind people the call is being recorded? 🎼
 
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CapitalIdea said:
I would provide feedback to make that optional based on the caller's location in the case of one-party consent, but I do wonder if there is a technical reason that such a thing can't be done (e.g. VPN + wifi calling).
Click to expand...
I'm personally of the opinion that you should disclose recording simply to avoid the appearance of shady behavior, if not for more serious reasons.

That said, I'm in favor of an option to disclose recording. It's the recording party's problem if they are using the tool improperly, and they can face the consequences.

An issue with your location-based approach, at least stateside, is that interstate recording can be a gray area. California has ruled that you must have two-party consent with recording calls of its residents. Whether they'll enforce a breach (extradition) is another topic.

Edit: Brevity and order.
 
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mansplains said:
I think it would be nice to choose whether to disclose the announcement or not. It's the recording party's problem if they are using the tool improperly, and they can face the consequences. I'm personally of the opinion that you should disclose recording simply to avoid the appearance of shady behavior. The only issue with your proposal, at least stateside, is that while you may reside in a single-party state, interstate recording can be a gray area. California has ruled that you must have two-party consent with recording calls of its residents. Whether they'll enforce a breach (extradition) is another facet.
Click to expand...
It may not be so simple. Apple could very well land itself in some serious Litigation if it leaves the recorder to alert someone to recording.

And while in the US it may be a gray area, in other parts it might be very black and white.

Apple is most likely taking the safe route and just putting the verbal disclaimer in to protect its own ass(ets)
 
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Premium1 said:
Because some locations are 2 party consent. Can't record someone without their knowledge in those areas. But go off.
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this is pain in the ass. I dont need to inform my wife every time we are on the phone to make a shopping list.....Also I don't need to inform anyone that I m recording our conversation when I am in the UK or Poland........so as I said it is useless unless they let us turn it off
 
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