Drowning in a sea of information? I feel you. As a journalist, the annual CES tech show is a whirlwind of rapid-fire conversations and groundbreaking product reveals. Keeping track of it all? Nearly impossible! But this year, I'm armed with a secret weapon: the Plaud NotePin S, a wearable AI note-taking device.
I'm Katie Collins, CNET's European correspondent (and, unofficially, your Taylor Swift tech guru!). My job involves navigating the bustling show floors, interviewing multiple companies in a single hour, and absorbing a torrent of new information. The challenge? Capturing every detail, every quote, every nuance, before the next exciting announcement. Previously, this meant frantic scribbling in a notepad, a memory game I often lost when it came time to write my articles.
But not anymore.
At CES 2026, the AI note-taking company Plaud is launching the NotePin S. This ingenious wearable device clips to your collar, wrist, or shirt, discreetly recording conversations throughout your day. Imagine: no more missed quotes, no more scrambling to remember key details.
I received an early version of the NotePin to test drive before the show. Like its predecessor, the NotePin S connects to your phone via Bluetooth, and transcriptions of your conversations appear instantly in the Plaud app. The device itself is sleek and compact, shaped like a pill and smaller than a USB stick.
I anticipate the NotePin S will be a game-changer as I navigate the crowded halls of CES. Plaud shared that the pin was successfully tested at the Dreamforce conference earlier this year, so I'm confident that the dual microphones, with a range of approximately 9.8 feet, will perform well in the noisy environment.
To start recording, all I need to do is long-press the front of the pin. But the feature I'm most excited about is the highlight button. This allows me to mark crucial moments during conversations, making it incredibly easy to find those key details when reviewing the transcriptions later.
I'm also impressed by the versatility of the NotePin S's accessories. Whether I'm wearing a jacket (lapel clip), a lanyard, or a wristband for sit-down interviews, the device adapts to my needs.
And that's not all! Plaud also announced the Plaud Desktop at CES, an AI notetaker designed to seamlessly bridge in-person and online meetings.
But here's where it gets controversial... Unlike those intrusive meeting bots, the Plaud Desktop discreetly records meetings on your computer, providing a context-rich summary within your Plaud account. This means all my notes, meetings, and conversations, whether captured by the wearable or the desktop device, will be organized in one place.
Both the NotePin S and Plaud Desktop will be available immediately. The NotePin S will cost $179 (£159).
And this is the part most people miss... The real power here isn't just in the technology; it's in the potential to streamline workflows and improve productivity. What do you think? Will AI note-taking devices revolutionize how we capture and process information? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Do you see any potential drawbacks or limitations? I'm eager to hear your perspectives!
