Do you ever feel like you missed something important during a meeting because you were too busy writing notes? Or maybe you wrote a lot but later couldn’t find what mattered most.
This happens to many of us. Taking good meeting notes can be tricky, especially when you’re also trying to focus and talk during the meeting. That’s why following smart and meeting notes best practices from manual techniques to AI-based approaches can help you capture and retain the most valuable insights.
These days, there are two main ways people take notes: the traditional way by hand (or typing), and the new way with the help of AI tools. Each method works well in its own way.
In this article, we’ll talk about both styles and how each one fits different kinds of meetings and work habits.
Why Taking Notes Still Matters
Despite all the tech surrounding us, it’s still important to take notes during meetings. Notes are what remind you of what happened, what was decided, and what needs to happen next. They also simplify the process of sharing updates with other members of the team who weren’t in the meeting.
Now, more people are using AI note takers to help with this. These tools join your meetings quietly in the background and do the writing for you. But that doesn’t mean the human way is no longer useful. Let’s look at how both styles work and when they can be most helpful.
How People Take Notes During Meetings
To note to yourself, one listens, or writes, or types, and tries to preserve the crucial points. This method is still popular for the simple reason that it makes people feel more in control. You can annotate in your own words, even commenting in the margins and marking up parts that matter more. Some people have notebooks, others have digital aids like Google Docs or notes apps.
The style can also vary depending on the meeting. In a lightning round, maybe you just take quick notes. In a longer one, you could communicate more. Alix Spiegel, The Fix: What is Kuczynski’s evidence for manual note-taking, and do you believe in it?
Manual note-taking improves memory and focus. The act of writing something yourself helps your brain remember that thing better. It also comes in handy when you have quick, informal meetings or brainstorming sessions.
What AI Note-Takers Do Differently
AI note takers rely on intelligent software to hear, comprehend and write up meeting dialog. They are compatible with apps such as Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams. No need to type anything during the meeting. After each meeting, you receive a summary, full transcript and, in some cases, a list of action items.
Some AI note takers like Amie work quietly in the background. They don’t need to join the meeting as a visible participant, so it doesn’t interrupt anything. Amie captures everything and delivers the summary in just a few seconds after the meeting ends.
These tools are helpful for people who attend many meetings each week. They reduce the load and allow you to focus more on the conversation. They are also helpful for teams that work across different time zones or languages.
When Human Note-Taking Works Well
In many instances, taking human notes is still helpful. If you are in a one-on-one chat or a brainstorming meeting, clicking the notes tab and typing in your own notes can help you think more clearly. You can draw arrows, circle points or write in short forms that you understand.
It holds up well to privacy, too. You have the power as to what you write and what you withhold. If the call is about private or sensitive matters, manual notes can feel more secure.
Another point is that manual notes are more flexible. You can adjust your writing style to the meeting type. For some people, writing also helps them understand things better.
When AI Note-Taking Makes More Sense
AI note-takers are useful in bigger or longer meetings. They’re good at handling lots of information and don’t miss anything. You don’t have to worry about catching every word because the tool does it for you.
For example, Amie supports 99 languages, which is helpful for teams in different regions. It labels speakers in 17 of those languages, making the transcripts clear. It also works with tools like your calendar, CRM, and task manager, so after a meeting, you can update everything without doing it manually.
This is helpful for project teams, client meetings, or even training sessions where you need to keep a record of everything that was said. AI tools save all past meetings too, so you can search and find anything quickly.
Benefits of Using Both Styles Together
Some people use both methods together. For example, you can let the AI tool take full notes and then just write down your own short points during the meeting. That way, you stay focused and still have a complete summary later.
This mix is useful when you want to remember key parts in your own way but also have a full record if needed. It also helps in follow-ups. You can look at the AI summary, check your own quick notes, and send a clear update to your team.
Using both methods also works when you’re learning something new. You can review the AI notes and use your own writing to highlight or explain points in simpler words for yourself.
How AI Tools Help in Different Meeting Types
Let’s look at how AI note takers can help depending on the kind of meeting you have.
For Team Meetings
AI tools are helpful for regular team catch-ups. They can capture updates from different people, label who said what, and share the summary with everyone after the meeting. This keeps everyone in sync.
For Client or Sales Calls
Tools like Fireflies AI and Fathom help sales or support teams by recording calls and sending notes to your CRM. This saves time and helps you follow up properly with clients.
For Workshops or Webinars
Long sessions can be tiring to note down manually. AI note takers handle this easily. They can record the full meeting, give you summaries, and let you search later for any specific topic or quote.
For Remote Work and International Teams
When people speak different languages or are in different time zones, AI note takers are helpful. Amie, for example, supports many languages and works without needing a bot to join the meeting. This keeps the meeting smooth and quiet.
Things to Keep in Mind
Both note-taking methods have their strengths. The choice depends on what kind of work you do and how you feel comfortable. If you’re attending one or two meetings a week and prefer personal notes, handwritten notes work fine.
But if you have back-to-back calls, need to share updates with a team, or want a searchable record, AI tools help a lot. They take away the pressure of writing during meetings and give you fast summaries.
You don’t have to choose one way forever. Many people switch between both styles based on the meeting type. What matters most is having clear notes that help you remember, act, and share the right information.
Final Thoughts
Taking good meeting notes helps everyone stay clear and organized. Today, we have two strong ways to do it—either by writing ourselves or using AI to help. Each one fits different needs and styles.
Human notes are more personal and help you think. AI notes are fast, detailed, and easy to share. Some people use both, and that works too.
The goal is to keep your work simple, clear, and smooth. With the right approach, your meetings will feel more useful, and follow-ups become quicker.