Let’s be clear: Otter.ai is great—when privacy isn’t the priority.
If you need to record a public webinar, share a transcript with a large remote team, or collaborate on notes in real time, cloud-based tools like Otter or Fireflies are hard to beat.
They are the “Google Docs” of audio.
But not every meeting is a public webinar.
Some conversations involve trade secrets. Others touch on sensitive HR issues, unreleased financial information, or private patient discussions.
For those meetings, using a cloud tool isn’t just a matter of preference—it introduces real risk.
At Geode, we aren’t trying to build a better Otter.
We are building its private counterpart.
We are building a Vault—one designed around on-device AI and a cloud-free workflow.
Here’s how to decide which one you need.
1. Architecture: “Convenience” vs. “Isolation”
The Cloud Model (Otter / Fireflies)
When you record with Otter, your audio is uploaded to external servers.
The Pro:
You can access your transcripts from anywhere, on any device.
The Trade-off:
Your data lives in a shared cloud environment. Even with strong safeguards, this means relying on infrastructure, access controls, and evolving privacy terms set by the service provider.
In other words, protection is based on policy and process.
The Vault Model (Geode)
When you record with Geode, your audio stays on your Mac.
The Pro:
A much smaller exposure surface. Access to your data requires access to your physical device.
The Trade-off:
There’s no instant shareable link—you choose when and how to export or share files.
The Difference:
All transcription and summaries are handled through on-device processing, using your Mac’s own hardware instead of a remote server.
There’s no step where you need to import to local storage after processing—because the data was never sent elsewhere in the first place.
In short
Cloud tools move your data to where the software is.
Geode keeps the software where your data already lives.
2. Trust: “Policy” vs. “Design”
The Cloud Approach
Cloud services often promise that your recordings won’t be reused without model training consent.
That promise may be sincere—but it still depends on trust:
- That policies won’t change unexpectedly
- That internal access remains well controlled
- That sensitive data isn’t retained longer than intended
You’re trusting people, processes, and documentation.
The Vault Approach
Geode minimizes what needs to be trusted.
Because Geode never receives your recordings, there is no server-side copy and no secondary pipeline for reuse. The system is architected so your data remains local at all times.
Privacy isn’t enforced by fine print.
It’s enforced by where the software runs.
We don’t frame privacy as a feature toggle.
We treat it as an architectural choice.
3. What This Means for Professionals
So—do you need Geode or Otter?
The honest answer is: many professionals use both.
Different tools solve different problems.
Use Otter.ai (The Cloud) when:
- Collaboration and live sharing matter most
- Sensitivity is low (public talks, internal syncs)
- You work across many devices throughout the day
Use Geode (The Vault) when:
- Discussions involve strategy, IP, or future plans
- Handling HR issues or legal preparation
- Interviewing confidential or anonymous sources
- Managing patient or therapy conversations
- You want transcription and summaries powered by on-device AI, without cloud exposure
The Verdict: Build Your Vault
We live in an era where data exposure is a constant concern.
For many everyday conversations, the convenience of the cloud is a reasonable trade-off.
But for conversations that could cause real harm if exposed—professional, financial, or personal—convenience shouldn’t be the default.
Let the cloud handle the casual.
Let your Mac protect the critical—with a cloud-free workflow that keeps control where it belongs.
