DingTalk Enters AI Recorder Market

Alibaba's DingTalk has released a credit card-sized, AI-powered voice recorder, the A1, intensifying competition in the AI hardware market. This device records, transcribes, translates, summarises, and analyses conversations. Unveiled at DingTalk's 10th-anniversary event, the A1 targets professionals, offering features like meeting transcriptions, summaries, and real-time translation in over 100 languages and 30 Chinese dialects. Its transcription capability was developed with Alibaba's Tongyi AI lab, using over 100 million hours of audio content for training.

The DingTalk A1 comes in two models, priced at approximately $70 and $112, significantly undercutting the US-based Plaud Note Pro's $179 price tag. This aggressive pricing reflects China's manufacturing advantages and aims to accelerate AI adoption. The device boasts impressive specifications, including a 6nm AI audio chip, 64GB storage, and up to 45 hours of continuous recording. It also supports noise reduction and encrypted recordings.

China's AI hardware market is projected to reach $153 billion in 2025, further doubling by 2030, attracting companies like Mobvoi, who have also launched similar AI recorders. DingTalk's A1 sold out its initial batch, signalling strong demand for AI-integrated hardware.