I’ve spent enough time in a lecture hall, watching fellow students wonder if AI is appropriate for their lecture transcription needs. Indeed, without proper note-taking, students miss important lecture points thanks to their doctor-like incomprehensible scrawls on scribbled notes. And, I have to say it’s dreadful to watch. I mean, if I can’t read my own writing, then it becomes a battle between frantically documenting something and learning. Thankfully, professors and other educators are starting to utilize solutions, like lecture transcription companies, to address the issue.
However, hoping to find the most practical solutions, many are drawn to AI-generated lecture transcripts and their promised “benefits.” Is AI really the way to transcribe recorded lectures? What could go wrong for students and educators?
In this article, you’ll learn how:
- AI transcription services are limited when transcribing lectures – especially when it comes to understanding technical vocabulary and its context.
- The nature of academic lectures makes accurate AI transcription particularly challenging, especially in STEM fields.
- Human transcription is always better, saving time and money and ensuring error-free deliverables.
Role of AI In Lecture Transcription
As you may have noticed, AI has become common in many areas, including lectures. Some educators utilize AI transcription systems to convert spoken words into texts, with the acceptance that it’s nowhere near as diligent as a caffeinated stenographer.
These systems use speech recognition algorithms and natural language processing (NLP) to document academic discourse. They capture every word, pause, or even verbal tics in real time. Companies call this “sophisticated” technology, yet many folks, myself included, aren’t buying it, and neither should you.
Real “Benefits” of AI in Transcribing Lectures
Transcribing lectures with AI is like a shiny object that in the end, doesn’t yield much benefit. Yes, AI does have something to offer; don’t expect it to be a premium benefit. Here are some of the most realistic benefits you might expect using AI transcription.
| Benefit | Description |
| Multi-Language Support | Translates lectures in various languages to some extent. It’s helpful for international students to understand course content. |
| Searchable Archives | Turns lectures into searchable text so students can easily find exactly what they need. |
| Accessibility Support | It creates draft transcripts for students with hearing difficulties to follow along, which can then be polished. |
| Backup Reference | It helps students double-check their generated notes and catch anything they missed during class or quizzes. |
| Learning Analytics | Shows how teachers present material or what topics they cover for schools to track their teaching. |
Limitations of AI In Lecture Transcriptions
So, yes, there’s some benefit to using AI to create lecture transcriptions – however, the “why not” is equally important to know.
Technical Vocabulary Issues
Like oil and water, jargon and AI transcription don’t mix. “Sophisticated” algorithms stumble over niche terms despite their “highly advanced” training. Your perfectly sensible academic terms will be turned into something amusing, frustrating, or horrible.
One real-world example was when the term mitochondrial DNA replication turned into mighty cone drill DNA replication when we tested one of the leading AI transcription solutions in the market.
Mangling technical terms, although sometimes funny, will create a domino effect through the transcripts. Even a single misinterpreted word can lead to a cascade of chaotic confusion.
Now, this particular vocabulary issue has become more apparent in STEM fields. Formulas and math expressions form the foundation of a typical STEM-related lecture, and of course, these specialized terms are also a significant challenge for AI transcription models.
However, the most concerning part is that these errors aren’t always apparent to students or those who review the transcripts, which is a surefire way to misunderstand the lecture.
Environmental Audio Complications
A typical lecture hall overwhelms AI transcription tools in terms of acoustics. Those jet-like air conditioning systems, laptop noises, the rustle of turning pages, the occasional cough or sneeze from that one classmate sitting at the back, gossip, or even the constant tap-tap-tap of those eager in note-taking will wreak havoc on the best ASR platforms. That’s not even considering students who frequently jump in with questions.
For the same reason, an expert human transcriptionist excels in these scenarios. They can easily focus on what’s relevant, while AI produces a jumbled mess of overlapping dialogue. You’d end up having a transcript that reads like avant-garde poetry.
In my experience, even something as simple as a professor moving around the room while teaching can result in fluctuating audio levels that confuse the AI, often resulting in patches of garbled text or completely missed sections.
Speech Pattern Barriers
Human speech is highly complicated. Even though we speak similar languages, our accents, speaking patterns, intonations, pronunciations, and many more are the weaknesses of AI transcription tools, and we can’t blame them. Our speech is just beautifully complex.
Guess what? A typical academic discourse rarely follows the predictable patterns the AI system prefers. Instead, it meanders through speeds, tones, speaking styles, etc.
I once dropped in on a rather enthusiastic art history professor who switched between describing Renaissance techniques and sharing personal anecdotes about the Louvre. His dynamic lecturing style was indeed, very captivating.
However, had his lectures been transcribed by modern transcription tools, I might have ended up with lecture AI transcripts so mixed up that they somehow transcribed his occasional coughs as profound statements about Michaelangelo.
Structural Organization Deficits
Despite seemingly unlimited computational power, AI transcription systems still approach lecture content like some court stenograph on autopilot, recording words while missing the whole forest for the trees. Automatic transcription systems produce continuous streams of texts without those essential organizational elements that make lectures digestible.
Yes, that means big blocks of text. Little punctuation or paragraph breaks. Without these organizational markers, students are left with what essentially amounts to a wall of text that requires more effort to restructure into a helpful study resource.
However, the absence of proper formatting goes beyond simple paragraph breaks to include more subtle structural elements like the hierarchical relationship between main concepts and supporting examples.
A Better Way To Transcribe Lectures: Human Transcription
AI may be popular now. However, Ditto’s human transcription service is still the gold standard for transcription.
As the name implies, a human handles every step of our transcription process.
Our specialists transcribe, edit, proofread, and polish, all with the sapience and awareness of a fellow human being. This is why human transcription is far more accurate, and that means wasting less time and money editing and modifying flawed transcripts.
Yes, human or manual transcription can be more expensive than automated solutions at the onset. However, it’s well worth it if you don’t have to review and edit your transcripts after receiving them.
Furthermore, human-powered transcription offers many extra services, such as providing timestamps, following grammar and formatting guidelines, and converting complete transcripts to different file formats.
Accuracy. Accessibility. Affordability. Get Them All With Ditto’s Lecture Transcripts
Maximize your productivity with the benefits of lecture transcription by enlisting the best service provider in the industry.
You can take advantage of all the benefits of academic transcription while enjoying Ditto’s perks.
- Experience: There’s no substitute for experience; since 2010, we’ve perfected our processes and tools to give our customers the highest level of service every single time.
- Accuracy: Accuracy is non-negotiable for lectures and research discussions. That’s why we focus on delivering high-quality transcriptions with 99% accuracy.
- Human Transcribers: At Ditto, we don’t use automated transcription tools. All projects are done by humans, for humans, to ensure the highest level of accuracy.
- Speed: We know deadlines are essential, so we offer flexible turnaround times. This way, you can get the transcripts you need whenever you need them.
- Foreign Language: We offer transcription services in multiple languages. We can make your academic content accessible to foreign students.
- Customer Service: We also believe in providing quality customer service. Our team is here to answer your questions or address any concerns related to our transcriptions.
- ADA-Compliant: Our transcripts can help you comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act by providing access to educational materials for students with disabilities.
- Security Compliance: We understand the importance of securing your data. So, we implement security to keep it confidential. When we say security, we mean CJIS, HIPAA, and FINRA compliance.
Call Now For Our Industry-Leading Service
Don’t break the bank with hiring in-house, and don’t settle for shoddy, inaccurate transcripts from AI tools. Get the best of everything with Ditto Transcripts.
Ditto offers 100% U.S.-based human services, 99% accuracy guarantees, fast turnaround times, affordable pricing structures, quality customer service, stringent security, and access to the industry’s best and most experienced transcriptionists.
Ditto Transcripts is a HIPAA, FINRA, and CJIS-compliant Denver, Colorado-based transcription services company that provides fast, accurate, and affordable transcripts for individuals and academic institutions of all sizes. Call (720) 287-3710 today for a free quote, and ask about our free five-day trial.