Many of us use ChatGPT and other LLMs to become more productive. A lot of companies are working on ways to bring these models to everyday gadgets. Earphones are perfect for AI as they can be used to record, translate, and transcribe meetings and lectures in many languages. The VIAIM OpenNote is a pair of open-ear, flexible earbuds that combine with AI to summarize, transcribe, and visualize your conversations with mind maps. The company was kind enough to send us a pair to test. Let’s see what’s included:
Having used the RecDot previously, we expected a very similar experience. The VIAIM OpenNote came in a very tiny package. It has a sleek case that provides over 50 hours of battery life. It has a USB-C port in the back for charging. There is also a button you can press for 3 seconds to pair or 10 seconds to reset your earbuds. These earbuds are very soft and comfortable to wear. They don’t completely block your ears, so you can stay aware of your surroundings.
We found these earbuds to be very easy to pair. You just have to download the app, make sure they are in the case, and press and hold the back button for 3 seconds to get started. You will be able to easily see the remaining battery for each bud. Each earbud has a touch-sensing area that you can pinch or hold to complete actions. You can use the companion app to customize the gestures. For example, you can set it up to go to the next track by pinching twice. The neat part is you don’t even need to use your hands. With voice commands, it is possible to play the next song, reject calls, and start/stop recording.
OpenNote earbuds can record and transcribe your calls, video/audio, and live meetings. You will just have to select the source and target languages. These earbuds can not only transcribe but also translate your conversations in real time. For multilingual transcription, you will have to subscribe, but the monolingual option is more than adequate for communicating with someone who doesn’t speak your language. The Live Text feature is underrated. It lets you share a QR code or link with others, so they can keep up with your conversations.
All modern LLMs are getting pretty good at translating and transcribing audio but you have the option to change the default AI model to:
- Gemini 3 Flash
- GPT 5.4 Nano
- Claude Haiku 4.5
- GPT 5.4, Gemini 3.1 Pro, Sonnet 4.5 (pro)
We used Gemini 3 Flash for our translations and saw no errors or performance issues. The app lets you create templates and describe what you want to focus on. With auto-recording, the device starts recording when you get a call. There is also an option to continue recording without call interruptions as long as you don’t mind manually stopping it.
These earbuds have Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity, which we found to be pretty stable. They last up to 14 hours when just playing music. We tested these earbuds for about 3 hours a day for 4 days and didn’t have to recharge them. You can use your phone to play a sound when you have misplaced the earbuds. You also get multiple EQ settings as well as a custom audio mode. Recordings can be done even when the OpenNote is not connected to your phone.
Overall, we found the VIAIM OpenNote earbuds to be a nice alternative to the RecDot. They are soft and comfortable to wear. We managed to record calls and multilingual conversations without any issues. It is also possible to record the audio of a long video you don’t have time to watch and create a mind map and summary for it. If you are looking for a gadget that puts the power of Claude, GPT, or Gemini in your ears, you should give this pair a look.
[HT]
