Google’s Gemini suite has launched a new feature called “Take Notes for Me” in Google Meet. This AI tool offers automated transcriptions and summaries. Fellow, an AI meeting assistant, already dominates this space. My team and I rely on it. As proud Fellow ambassadors and daily users for a year, I had to test Gemini’s latest offering. My goal? A tough contest between Gemini and Fellow will reveal which AI note-taker shines the most.
If you find this comparison helpful, check the link in the description. You can get a 10% discount on your first year of Fellow’s paid plans. For newcomers, I’m Marquee, CEO of Surface. We proudly partner with Asana, Fellow, and Unito Solutions. I make weekly videos to help you get the most from your tech investments.
Round 1: Transcription and Summary
Let’s dive into the core functionality: transcription and summarization. We’ll examine Gemini first, then switch over to Fellow.
Gemini in Action:
Inside Google Meet, the “Take AI Notes” button initiates the process. A few key observations immediately jumped out:
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Personal Drive Storage: Gemini saves the notes document to the meeting host’s personal Google Drive. In a collaborative setting, particularly with client or sales calls, this is less than ideal. I prefer a shared drive for team accessibility. Fellow lets you pick where to send the recap. You can share it with all attendees, too.
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English Only (For Now): Gemini currently transcribes and summarizes in English only. While this is a limitation, I did appreciate a cool multilingual feature during a recent sales call in Spanish. With live captions on, I could translate the chat into English instantly. This kept me involved, even though I don’t speak Spanish well. I could also change the language if need be. This real-time translation is a huge plus for Gemini and a sign of its evolving capabilities.
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Transcription Accuracy: The transcription isn’t perfect, but it gets the main points of the conversation.
Fellow Steps Up:
When Fellow joins the meeting (yes, it needs to be “let in”), the experience changes a lot.
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Seamless Integration: Auto-recording starts automatically, and Fellow’s note-taking interface is readily available. Unlike Google Meet’s sometimes cumbersome recording process, Fellow makes it effortless.
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Unified Notes and Recording: Fellow keeps notes and recordings in one place. This removes the hassle of using separate documents in Google Meet. This unified approach has always been a major draw for me.
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In-Meeting Collaboration: Fellow shines in collaborative meetings. Features such as assigning talking points, adding reactions, and taking notes in real time boost engagement. They also help everyone stay on the same page.
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Co-pilot’s Brilliance: Fellow’s Co-pilot feature lets you ask questions in a meeting. You’ll get real-time answers based on the discussion. This is a game-changer for clarifying missed points or quickly retrieving specific information. Google’s Gemini hasn’t matched this functionality yet.
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Action Items and Asana Sync: The Fellow lets you create action items right in your notes and sync them with Asana. This boosts productivity.It streamlines task management and keeps projects moving forward.
Round 2: Summary Showdown
Now for the moment of truth: comparing the summaries.
Gemini’s Summary:
Gemini delivered a decent high-level overview of the meeting’s key topics. It clearly highlighted the main discussion points and gave a timeline of the conversation. However, it lacked the depth and context I crave.
Fellow’s Summary:
Fellow’s summary blew me away. It wasn’t just a summary; it was a concise yet comprehensive narrative of the meeting. The level of detail captured, while remaining succinct, was impressive. Fellow’s summary gave me a true understanding of what transpired, not just a list of keywords. It’s this nuanced understanding that helps me recall critical details, especially with the volume of calls I handle daily.
Round 3: Integrations
Integrations play a crucial role in a streamlined workflow.
Fellow’s Integration Prowess:
Fellow boasts a wide array of integrations with popular tools like Asana, Monday.com, ClickUp, HubSpot, and Salesforce. This seamless connectivity automates tasks and keeps information flowing effortlessly between platforms. I love that Fellow syncs meeting notes to HubSpot automatically. This saves me from manual data entry and keeps my CRM up-to-date.
Gemini’s Limited Integrations:
Gemini’s integrations are currently limited, though its potential is undeniable. While you can use Zapier or similar tools, Fellow’s native integrations make the process easier and more efficient.
Round 4: Language and Accessibility
Language support and accessibility are key considerations for diverse teams.
Fellow’s Multilingual Support:
Fellow’s multilingual support is a standout feature. Fellow transcribed and summarised the Spanish call. It also gave a perfect English translation in the platform. This level of multilingual support is invaluable for global teams.
Gemini’s English Focus:
Gemini’s current English-only limitation restricts its accessibility for non-English speakers. Google’s live caption translation feature is useful. However, it doesn’t have tools for summarising or taking notes.
Round 5: Security and Privacy
In the modern digital environment, data security and privacy are important.
Fellow’s Robust Security:
Fellow focuses on security. It has SOC 2 Type 2 compliance, is ready for GDPR, and meets HIPAA standards. This promise to protect data builds trust. It ensures that sensitive information is managed carefully. I’ve looked into Fellow’s security features in detail in another video. I’m always impressed by their thorough approach.
Gemini’s General Privacy:
Gemini, backed by Google’s infrastructure, adheres to general privacy standards. You need to look at their terms and conditions for specific details, but this can take time. Fellow’s transparent approach to security is more reassuring.
Round 6: Pricing
Let’s talk dollars and cents.
Gemini’s Pricing Evolution:
Gemini’s pricing has recently shifted. It used to cost $18 per user each month as an add-on. Now, it will be included in all Workspace editions. While this is a welcome change, potential future price hikes are always a possibility.
Fellow’s Flexible Pricing:
Fellow offers a range of plans to suit various needs. Fellow provides pricing choices. You can pick from free individual and solo plans or larger business and team plans. This structure grows with your team’s needs. The free plan for teams under three is a great entry point.
My Verdict: Fellow Takes the Crown (For Now)
Gemini has potential and benefits from Google’s resources. Fellow’s maturity and full features clearly make it the top choice in this comparison. Fellow’s unified platform stands out. It offers strong integrations, supports multiple languages, and focuses on security. These features make it the top AI tool for taking meeting notes.
If you’re fully invested in the Google ecosystem and focused on Gemini, go ahead and explore what it can do. However, if you’re seeking a truly powerful and versatile AI meeting assistant, Fellow is the way to go. It simplifies tasks, boosts teamwork, and offers clear insights. That’s why it’s essential for my team and me.
What do you think? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments. I love hearing different views and chatting about how AI meeting tools are changing. Thanks for Reading, and I’ll see you in the next blog.
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