01 · The tools
Which AI tools to use for taking notes
Otter
VisitLive transcription of lectures with speaker labels and automatic summaries
NotebookLM
VisitUploading a transcript or slides and asking questions grounded in that material
ChatGPT
VisitTurning a raw transcript into structured notes, summaries and practice questions
Notion
VisitOrganizing notes with AI summaries and search across all your lectures
02 · The method
Step by step
- 1
Get permission to record
Ask your lecturer or check the course policy before recording. Many allow it for personal study, but you should confirm, not assume.
- 2
Record and transcribe the lecture
Use Otter or a recorder app so you can listen and think instead of scrambling to write every word down.
- 3
Turn the transcript into structured notes
Feed the transcript to AI and ask for clear headings, key points, definitions and any examples the lecturer stressed.
- 4
Generate study materials
Ask for a short summary, the main takeaways, and practice questions or flashcards so the lecture becomes something you can revise from.
- 5
Review actively, do not just file it
Quiz yourself on the questions and add your own thoughts. Notes you never engage with build no memory, no matter how clean they look.
03 · Use this now
Copy-paste prompt to turn a transcript into notes
You are helping me study. Here is the transcript of a lecture on [subject]: [paste]. Turn it into clean, structured notes with clear headings, key concepts, definitions and any examples the lecturer emphasized. Then add a short summary of the main takeaways and ten practice questions I can use to test myself, with the answers listed separately. Keep it faithful to the transcript and do not add facts that were not in the lecture.
04 · Avoid these
Common mistakes
- Recording without permission. Check your lecturer's or institution's policy first.
- Collecting perfect AI notes and never reviewing them. Passive filing does not create memory; active recall does.
- Trusting the transcript blindly. Transcription mishears technical terms and names, so check anything important against slides.
05 · Questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the best AI for taking lecture notes?
Otter is strong for live transcription, and NotebookLM, ChatGPT or Claude are best for turning that transcript into structured notes and study materials. Many students record with one tool and process the transcript with another.
Is it OK to record lectures with AI?
Usually for personal study, but get permission first. Policies vary by lecturer and institution, and some material or guest speakers may not be recordable, so confirm before you press record.
Will AI notes help me learn?
Only if you engage with them. AI captures and organizes the content, but memory comes from reviewing actively, quizzing yourself and adding your own thinking, not from owning a tidy transcript you never open.