Recording and consent, in plain terms.

What CanaryVolt actually does

During a session, CanaryVolt listens to the conversation, shows a live transcript on your own device, and uses that transcript to offer suggestions in the moment. CanaryVolt does not persist audio or conversation content on its servers. On Desktop, the full transcript is sent to the AI provider at End to generate a summary; the transcript and summary remain in app memory for review or export until the next session starts or the app exits. A summary is written to your device only if you turn on Save session notes, which is off by default. Subprocessor processing and retention are disclosed in the Privacy Policy and the trust overview.

Even so: transcribing a conversation is the kind of thing everyone in it deserves to know about. That's a legal matter in many places, and a respect matter everywhere.

Your responsibility, in plain terms

Laws on recording and transcribing conversations vary by state and country. In the United States, some states require every participant's consent (often called "two-party consent"), and on a call that crosses state lines the strictest rule is the safe assumption. Other countries have their own rules.

You are the one in the conversation — so getting whatever consent applies to you is your responsibility, and our Terms of Service say so explicitly. The simplest compliant posture, everywhere, is to tell everyone and get an OK. It also happens to be the posture that keeps trust in the room.

This page is practical guidance, not legal advice. For jurisdiction-by-jurisdiction detail, a widely used reference is the Reporters Committee recording guide, and when in doubt, ask a lawyer.

Easy ways to disclose

• Say it at the start. One sentence does it: "Quick heads-up — I use an AI assistant that transcribes our call so I can stay present and send good notes after. Is everyone OK with that?"
• Put it in the invite. A line in the calendar event — "I use an AI note-taking assistant on my calls" — means nobody is surprised live.
• Share the notes. Sending your summary to the other side afterward turns the assistant from something you used on them into something you used for the both of you.

What the apps do to help

• A live indicator stays on your own screen during every session.
• Nothing about CanaryVolt hides: no bot joins your meeting, and the on-screen panel is a normal window on your own machine.
• Sessions are ephemeral by default; persisting a transcript, notes, or history beyond the app's temporary review screen is your explicit choice.

Questions about any of this: hello@canaryvolt.com.