Getting a summary automatically when a meeting ends

An automatic meeting summary is written as soon as a meeting ends, without you asking for it. The tool takes the finished transcript, sends it to a language model, and puts the summary and action items beside the meeting. It saves a click. It also means transcript text leaves your computer after every meeting, and, in tools that meter AI use, every meeting counts against your allowance, including ones you never needed notes for.

This guide covers the trade-offs, the steps to set it up sensibly in any tool, and how the setting works in Notey.

Get a summary automatically when a meeting ends

1. Decide which meetings need one. Client calls and planning meetings usually do; a quick check-in rarely does. If most of your meetings do not need notes, asking per meeting may suit you better.
2. Check where the text goes. An automatic summary sends the transcript every time. Read the tool's privacy policy for what is sent, to whom, and whether it is kept or used for training.
3. Check what it costs. If the plan meters AI use by hours or by meetings, automatic summaries use it on every meeting you record.
4. Turn the setting on. Most notetakers put it in settings or beside the notes. The steps for Notey are below.
5. Check the first few summaries. Compare them with the transcript before you rely on them. Can you trust an AI meeting summary? lists what to look for.
6. Decide what to do with them. A summary nobody reads is only a cost. Send it, file it or delete it.

What changes when it is automatic

The last row is the one that matters most for quality. A summary you asked for is one you were about to read. A summary that appears by itself is more likely to be forwarded as it is. Keep the habit of checking commitments, names and numbers against the transcript, and label AI-written text when you pass it on; how to label AI-written notes you share has wording.

Why the summary may change later

Some tools improve the transcript after the meeting, with a second pass over the recording that takes longer than live transcription. A summary written from the live transcript would then be based on a worse text. There are two reasonable designs:

• Wait for the better transcript, then summarise. The summary comes later but is based on better text.
• Summarise now, rewrite later. You get something immediately, and it is replaced once the better text is ready.

Either way, a summary you have corrected by hand should never be overwritten. Why Notey re-transcribes a meeting after it ends explains the second pass.

When to leave it off

Automatic summaries suit people whose meetings nearly all need notes. They suit others less well:

• Most of your recordings are not meetings with outcomes, such as webinars, lectures or long calls you record only to search later. Each one would be summarised and counted.
• You meet about sensitive things, such as HR matters or health, and would rather decide per meeting whether any text leaves your computer.
• You are on a small allowance and want to spend it on the meetings that matter.
• You rarely read the summaries. If they pile up unread, asking per meeting is cheaper and just as quick when you need one.

With it off, you can still ask for a summary of any meeting whenever you need one. Nothing is lost by waiting: the transcript is on your Mac, and a summary asked for next week is written from the same text as one written the moment the meeting ended.

Automatic summaries in Notey

Notey can write every finished meeting up with AI as it ends. It is a standing choice you make once, shown in the app, and you can undo it at any time.

Turn it on

1. Sign in. AI notes need an account and a plan that includes them; see pricing. Recording and transcription do not.
2. Open any meeting and choose the Notes tab.
3. Tick "Write every meeting up with AI when it ends, without being asked".
4. Check Settings. Under Writes meetings up when they end, it now says each finished meeting is summarised without being asked.

To turn it off, untick the same box. Settings then says nothing is written until you ask.

What happens after a meeting

• Each finished meeting is summarised as it ends, and counts against the month's AI hours, the same as asking.
• The notes are written from the better transcript when one is coming. After an English meeting, Notey reads the recording again on your Mac and keeps the words the recognisers agree on.
• Notes you have not edited may be rewritten after the transcript improves, which counts against the month's hours again. Notes you have edited are never touched.
• Only text is sent: the transcript and the names you gave people, never audio. It goes to Notey's service and on to OpenAI as a processor, not used for training and not retained by Notey.
• Everything is labelled AI-generated, and your edits are marked.

The other kinds of note (minutes, tough questions, where you differed, the follow-up email) are still written when you ask for them. How AI meeting notes are made covers the whole chain from audio to notes.

Frequently asked questions

How do I get a meeting summary automatically?

Use a notetaker with an automatic write-up setting and turn it on. In Notey, open any meeting's Notes tab and tick "Write every meeting up with AI when it ends, without being asked". You need to be signed in.

Does an automatic summary cost more?

In tools that meter AI use, each automatic summary counts the same as one you asked for. In Notey each finished meeting summarised this way counts against the month's hours, and a rewrite after the transcript improves counts again.

Why did my meeting summary change after the meeting?

In Notey, an automatic summary you have not edited may be rewritten once the better transcript for an English meeting is ready. Summaries you edited are never touched.

Can I turn automatic summaries off?

Yes. In Notey, untick the same checkbox on any meeting's Notes tab. Settings shows whether it is on under "Writes meetings up when they end". With it off, nothing is written until you ask.

Is an automatic summary less accurate than one I ask for?

It is made the same way from the same transcript. The difference is that nobody chose to look at it, so it is more likely to be forwarded unchecked. Check it before acting on it.

Does an automatic summary send the recording?

In Notey, no. Only the transcript text and the names you gave people are sent, when the meeting ends. The recording stays on your Mac.

Does Notey summarise meetings if I have no account?

No. With no account, nothing is sent anywhere and no AI notes are written. Recording, transcription and search still work.