The latest WhatsApp update for Android users, currently in beta, will be very welcome. With it, the app will automatically transcribe voice notes into text. This feature has been available for iPhone users since last year and is finally on its way to Android phones.
This is an important upgrade for several reasons. For a start, though some people love to leave voice messages on WhatsApp, not everyone wants to listen to them because of the time they take to listen to—though there are handy 1.5x and 2x buttons that mean you can hear them faster.
Transcription means the voice note has the words printed below the play button. You can still listen to the voice, which is handy if the transcript doesn’t make sense or there’s a subtle detail you want to confirm.
WABetaInfo says, “The transcription feature uses advanced speech recognition technology to accurately convert voice messages into text, enabling users to comprehend and respond to messages without relying solely on audio playback. This feature not only enhances accessibility for users with hearing impairments but also caters to users in noisy environments or situations where listening to audio may not be feasible.”
And if a voice message arrives and you want to know what it says, but you’re in a situation where playing audio out loud is not appropriate, such as a meeting or at religious services, say, then glancing at the printed text is quieter, as well as faster.
It’s worth adding that you can turn this feature off if you don’t care for it, but it remains as secure as regular messages—the transcription is done on-device, so end-to-end encryption remains in place.
One of the ways it can be done on device is because the app requires you to download “150MB of new app data” and the system also uses “your device’s speech recognition to provide end-to-end transcripts.”
Android phone users still need to practice a little patience, however, as the feature is to be found currently in a beta update rather than a general release.
So, what took so long? Well, it may be easier to add a feature when you’re working with a smallish range of different Apple handsets—all with identical microphones—compared to the vastly different devices that come under the Android umbrella.
Whatever, it’ll be a very welcome update.
