A recent survey of 500 employed U.S. adults found that AI notetakers have become a common presence in work meetings, with 33.4% of respondents saying they have been used in their meetings. However, only 34.7% of those workers said they were always asked for permission before the tool recorded or transcribed their conversations.

Consent and Recording Laws

The issue of consent is a major concern, as 65.3% of workers who have had AI notetakers in their meetings say that consent was inconsistent or absent. Furthermore, many workers are unaware of the laws surrounding recording conversations, with 41.8% saying they had no idea that recording laws applied to work meetings.

In some states, such as California, all participants must give their consent before a conversation can be recorded. However, only 35% of workers said they were aware of this requirement. The lack of awareness and inconsistent application of consent protocols have led to legal issues, including a federal class action against Otter.ai alleging that meetings were recorded and transcribed without the consent of all participants.

Implications for Companies

The use of AI notetakers raises important questions about privacy and consent in the workplace. Companies that deploy these tools must ensure that they are obtaining the necessary consent from all participants before recording or transcribing conversations. Failure to do so can result in legal liability and damage to the company’s reputation.

Original reporting: El Paso News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.