The Hidden Cost of Cloud-Based AI Meeting Tools
AI is everywhere—but where is your data going?
It’s easy to sign up for a tool like Otter.ai, Fireflies, or Fathom and let it transcribe your meetings. But behind that convenience is a hidden cost: your privacy.
What Happens When Your Meeting Data Goes to the Cloud?
When you use a cloud-based AI tool, here’s what typically happens:
- Your meeting audio is uploaded to external servers.
- It’s processed (often alongside data from thousands of other users).
- The resulting transcript and metadata are stored indefinitely.
Many tools even admit to using anonymized meeting data to improve their models.
Why That’s a Problem
- Compliance risk: For schools (FERPA), healthcare (HIPAA), or EU customers (GDPR), cloud uploads can be a major violation.
- IT headaches: Many organizations prohibit unsanctioned cloud tools entirely.
- Human review: Some tools use human contractors to review your transcripts.
The On-Device Alternative: Quill
Quill doesn’t upload your data. Everything happens locally:
- AI models run on your machine
- Summaries, action items, and notes are created on the fly
- Nothing is stored online unless you choose to
You keep complete control. It’s like having a brilliant meeting assistant who never leaks a word.
Total Data Ownership Means:
Who Needs This?
- Schools & educators working under FERPA rules
- Law firms or legal professionals with privileged info
- Healthcare orgs under HIPAA
- Enterprises with strict data governance policies
Final Thoughts
AI meeting assistants are powerful. But not all of them respect your data.
With Quill, you get full AI capability—without the cloud. It’s faster, safer, and smarter for your team.
