OpenAI has rolled out a new feature called Record Mode within ChatGPT, enabling users to record and transcribe spoken content, such as meetings, brainstorms, or voice notes directly within the chat interface. This feature is currently available through the macOS desktop app and limited to users on Enterprise, Edu, Team, and Pro plans.

What Record Mode Does

With Record Mode, users can click a Record button to begin speaking. ChatGPT transcribes the audio live, and once the user clicks "Send," it generates a structured summary of the session within a canvas, a private workspace attached to the chat. These canvases can be edited manually or adapted into other formats, such as emails, plans, or outlines, through prompts.

Key Features

1. Live Audio Transcription: ChatGPT transcribes voice input as users speak. A timer helps track session duration.
2. Structured Summaries: After recording ends, a summary is generated in a canvas, which can then be refined or repurposed using ChatGPT.
3. Multi-Speaker Support: The system can handle input from multiple speakers, although it performs best in English.
4. Time Limit: Sessions can last up to 120 minutes. If the limit is reached, ChatGPT ends the session and generates a summary.
5. Audio File Handling: Audio recordings are deleted immediately after transcription. Only the text transcript and canvas are retained.

Responsible Use

Users are reminded to comply with local laws and obtain appropriate consent before recording others. Record Mode is subject to the same workspace-level retention settings as other conversations in ChatGPT.

Privacy & Training

For Enterprise and Edu workspaces, content from Record Mode including transcripts and canvases is excluded from training by default.

Audio recordings are used only for the purpose of transcription and are not stored.

For Pro and Team users, if the “Improve the model for everyone” setting is enabled, transcripts and canvases may be used to train OpenAI models. Users can disable this in their settings.

Referencing Past Recordings

A setting called “Reference Record History” allows ChatGPT to use previously recorded summaries to provide more contextually helpful responses in future chats. This can support follow-up questions like “What did we agree on during Monday’s sync?”

Users can turn this feature on or off in Settings → Personalization.

Availability and Cost

Record Mode is included at no additional cost for eligible plans. Access is being rolled out gradually, so some users may need to wait before seeing the feature.

Workspace administrators can enable or disable Record Mode in Settings → Workspace Controls. Note: it is disabled by default in Enterprise and Edu environments.