Privately Recording Meetings
Groupthink can take meeting notes privately through the desktop app. Instead of the visible notetaker bot joining your call, the desktop app captures the conversation locally on your computer. Nothing appears in the meeting, other participants do not see Groupthink, and the resulting notes and transcript stay private to you.
Groupthink processes the audio to produce the transcript, then discards the recording. We keep the transcript, summary, and notes, not the underlying audio or video.
Heads up: Private capture requires an active trial or paid plan, the same as the visible notetaker. Without one, Groupthink will not start taking notes.
Heads up: Private capture runs in the Groupthink desktop app. If you do not have the app installed, Groupthink will prompt you to download it when you turn private capture on.
Overview
Private capture is the alternative to the visible Public with Bot notetaker:
- No bot in the call. Groupthink records through your desktop app, so nothing joins your Meet, Zoom, or Teams call and other participants do not see Groupthink.
- Private by default. The notes and transcript are visible only to you. They carry a 📝 Private notes (only you) label in the app.
- Same automatic output. You still get a transcript, notes filed against your agenda, and a recap after the meeting ends, just like the visible notetaker.
Warning: It is your responsibility to comply with the recording laws that apply to you and the people on your call.
Requirements
Private capture runs in the Groupthink desktop app, so you need the app installed and running.
- Install the Groupthink desktop app. See Groupthink Desktop App for download links and setup steps for your computer.
- When the app prompts you, grant the system permissions it needs to capture audio.
If you turn private capture on without the app installed, Groupthink saves your preference and prompts you to download the desktop app before it can record.
Turning On Private Capture
There are two ways to use private capture.
Option 1: Set it as your default
Choose private capture once and it applies to your future meetings. This setting lives in User Settings > Calendar, under the heading How should Groupthink attend your meetings?
Select Privately Take Notes. Groupthink will record privately through the desktop app, no bot will join your calls, and your notes, transcript, and summary stay private to you.
To attend scheduled meetings this way, connect your Google Calendar first so Groupthink can see your meetings and their conferencing links.
Option 2: Start it on a single meeting
You can also turn on private capture for one meeting at a time.
- From a meeting agenda, click Start Notetaker and choose Private with App. Groupthink will record that meeting locally on your desktop.
- From your calendar, open a meeting's three-dot menu and choose Add Invisible Note Taker to capture it privately through the desktop app.
In both cases, if the desktop app is not installed, Groupthink will prompt you to download it.
What You Get
Private capture produces the same things as the visible notetaker, kept private to you:
- A full transcript of the conversation.
- Notes filed against the items on your agenda.
- A recap with topics, decisions, and follow-ups once the meeting ends.
Your notes carry a 📝 Private notes (only you) label, and the agenda is visible only to you.
Switching Between Private and Shared
You can switch a meeting between private and shared capture from the meeting's three-dot menu on your calendar. Choose Swap to Invisible Note Taker to go private, or swap back to the bot to go shared, then confirm in the dialog (Switch to Private Notes? or Switch to Shared Notes?). For a recurring meeting, you can apply the change to a single event or the whole series.
Two things to know before you switch:
- Switching to private removes everyone else. All other users immediately lose access to the shared agenda and its notes. Their content is not copied into your private agenda.
- Switching to shared starts fresh. Your private agenda stays private, and a new blank shared agenda is created. If you want anything from your private notes in the shared one, move it over yourself.
For more on private versus shared notes, see Automatic Meeting Notes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can other people see my private notes?
No. Notes captured privately through the desktop app are visible only to you and carry a 📝 Private notes (only you) label.
Do I need the desktop app?
Yes. Private capture records locally through the Groupthink desktop app. If the app is not installed, Groupthink prompts you to download it before it can record. See Groupthink Desktop App.
Does Groupthink keep my audio?
No. Groupthink uses the audio to produce a transcript and then discards the recording. The transcript, summary, and notes are the durable record.
Why did private capture not take any notes?
A few things have to be in place: the Groupthink desktop app needs to be installed and running, you need an active trial or paid plan, and private capture has to be turned on, either as your default setting or on the specific meeting.
Is anything visible to other people on the call?
No. With private capture, no bot joins the call and your notes stay private to you.
Getting Help
Questions about private capture, or running into trouble? See Troubleshooting Private Meeting Recording, or email support@groupthink.com.