New Tool Transcribes WhatsApp Voice Messages Automatically

AI expert Tomer Cohen has developed Ramble, an open-source tool designed to automatically transcribe WhatsApp voice messages directly within the chat. Cohen, who has worked in high-tech for two decades and focuses on AI product development, created Ramble to address his own frustration with listening to lengthy voice messages while preferring to send them himself. "I hate listening to voice messages, but I really like sending them," Cohen stated. The tool transcribes incoming and outgoing voice messages within seconds, displaying the text below the audio, and also condenses silences and corrects errors.

Ramble connects to WhatsApp similarly to WhatsApp Web, via a QR code or phone number. Once activated, it creates a new chat for personalization and disconnection. The original recordings and transcriptions are not stored; messages pass through the server solely for transcription. Cohen emphasized that the code is open-source on GitHub, allowing anyone to inspect it or create their own version.

Initially developed for personal use, Cohen released Ramble after sharing it on LinkedIn and realizing many users shared his problem. He noted that while other transcription tools exist, like Eliezer, their requirement to transfer messages to a separate chat was a barrier for many users, causing them to abandon the process. Notably, the creators of Eliezer recently faced user attrition after Meta's price increases forced them to move transcriptions to Telegram and a dedicated app.

Currently, Ramble is free, with users limited to 30 minutes of transcription per day due to ongoing costs. Cohen anticipates that if usage increases significantly, a paid tier might become necessary. He is working on improving transcription quality and reducing costs to maintain the free service and is considering adding more features based on user feedback.

Cohen predicts that Meta will eventually have to allow third-party AI assistants like Ramble to integrate more seamlessly with WhatsApp. He believes the current method of connecting, which resembles WhatsApp Web, is a temporary workaround and that the "wall" preventing direct integration is already cracking, citing other services that have managed to connect.