AI Without Recording lets you generate call transcripts without enabling call recording. This is useful for businesses that do not want to store audio recordings but still need documentation of their calls.
Overview
With AI without recording, you can get full transcripts of your calls using real-time transcription, without storing any audio recordings. Transcripts are available in the Conversation Center and via the Public API.
Once transcription is enabled, you can also access AI features included with AI Assist and Pro, including:
- Summaries, topics, and action items
- Custom summaries
- Call scoring and sentiment analysis
- Playbooks and live prompts
- Trackers
- Follow-up email generation
How it works
When AI without recording is enabled:
- Real-time transcription captures the conversation as it happens
- At the end of the call, the full transcript is saved and stored
- The transcript is available in the Conversation Center and via the Public API
- AI features are generated from the transcript (summaries, topics, sentiment, call scoring, etc.)
IMPORTANT: No audio recording is created or stored. Only the text transcript is retained.
Who can use AI without recording?
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| License | AI Assist Pro (required for each agent) |
| Permissions | Admin or Owner role to configure |
| Location | Numbers > [Select Number] > Settings |
NOTE: Each agent whose calls need to be transcribed without recording must have an AI Assist Pro license assigned.
How to enable AI without recording
Step 1: Disable call recording
First, ensure call recording is disabled for the number:
Steps:
- Go to Aircall Dashboard > Numbers.
- Select the number you want to configure.
- Go to the Settings tab.
- Under Call recording, ensure both options are OFF:
- Auto-record inbound calls
- Auto-record outbound calls
Step 2: Enable real-time transcription
On the same Settings page, navigate to the Transcriptions section and enable real-time transcription.
NOTE: The real-time transcription toggle is only visible in the dashboard when a feature flag has been enabled for your account. If you do not see this option after disabling call recording, contact Aircall Support to request activation.
Steps:
- Toggle ON “Transcribe calls in real time”.
- Review the disclaimer that appears:
- “The full conversation will be transcribed and available in the public API. Transcripts may include personal or payment information. Remember it's under your responsibility to comply with local regulations regarding call recording and data privacy.”
- Click to confirm and save.
Step 3: Configure AI features (optional)
With real-time transcription enabled, you can configure additional AI features, such as:
- Live Assistant, real-time guidance for agents during calls
- Custom Summary, generate specific insights based on your templates
Important considerations
Compliance responsibility
You are responsible for ensuring compliance with local regulations regarding:
- Call transcription and data privacy
- Customer consent requirements
IMPORTANT: Transcripts may include personal or payment information. Ensure your data handling practices comply with applicable regulations.
Transcription runs for the full call duration
Unlike recorded calls where agents can stop recording, real-time transcription cannot be stopped mid-call. The full conversation will be transcribed from start to finish.
IMPORTANT: Aircall supports AI Assist and AI Assist Pro in 24 languages, across two coverage tiers. Here's what to expect from each: Verified languages: English, French, Spanish, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Italian. Available languages: 17 additional languages across Eastern Europe, the Nordics, and other regions (Polish, Romanian, Bulgarian, Czech, Hungarian, Slovak, Croatian, Russian, Catalan, Ukrainian, Swedish, Norwegian, Danish, Finnish, Turkish, Greek, Filipino). These are offered on a best-effort basis: • Accuracy has not been validated to the same standard as Verified languages • Quality may vary depending on accent, industry vocabulary, and audio conditions • Predefined playbook templates are not available (custom playbooks still work) If you rely on transcription or AI output quality for a business-critical workflow, we recommend using a Verified language where possible, or testing Additional languages on a representative sample of your calls first. Please, refer to our T&C.
FAQs
Can I enable both recording and AI without recording?
If recording is enabled, the system uses the recorded audio for transcription (async transcription). AI without recording is specifically for when recording is disabled.
Is the transcript quality the same as with recorded calls?
Real-time transcription may have slight differences from post-call (async) transcription, but both provide high-quality transcripts.
Do all agents need AI Assist Pro?
Only agents whose calls you want transcribed without recording need an AI Assist Pro license. Calls from agents without the license will not be transcribed.
Does this work with all languages?
AI without recording supports the same languages as standard AI Assist Pro features.
The real-time transcription toggle is not visible in my number settings. What should I do?
The transcription toggle only appears when a specific feature flag has been enabled for your account. Contact Aircall Support to request activation for your account.