Microsoft AI launches MAI-Transcribe-2 speech model, beating Gemini 3.5 Transcribe and GPT‑Transcribe, at $0.10 per audio hour through 2026 (Michael Nuñez/VentureBeat)
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| Source: Techmeme | Original article
Microsoft launches MAI-Transcribe-2, a speech‑recognition model it says outperforms Gemini 3.5 Transcribe and GPT‑Transcribe, priced at $0.10 per audio hour through 2026.
Microsoft AI has unveiled MAI‑Transcribe‑2, its latest speech‑recognition model, positioning it as the fastest, most accurate and cheapest solution on the market. The company says the system outperforms Google’s Gemini 3.5 Transcribe and OpenAI’s GPT‑Transcribe on benchmark tests, delivering “leading FLEURS and Artificial Analysis accuracy scores.” Pricing is set at ten cents per hour of audio – a rate Microsoft promises to hold through 2026 – which translates to roughly $1.67 per 1,000 minutes, a steep cut from competitors’ fees.
The announcement matters because it reshapes the economics of automated transcription. By undercutting the pricing power of standalone vendors and offering a model that claims superior speed and domain‑specific precision, Microsoft signals a strategic shift toward building core AI capabilities in‑house rather than licensing external services. The move also intensifies pressure on rivals such as Google, OpenAI and ElevenLabs, which have traditionally dominated the speech‑to‑text space.
What to watch next includes the rollout of MAI‑Transcribe‑2 across Microsoft’s cloud platform and its integration into enterprise workflows that rely on large‑scale audio processing, from call‑center analytics to media captioning. Industry observers will be keen to see independent benchmark results that validate the claimed accuracy edge, as well as how competitors respond on price and performance. Adoption rates among developers and enterprises, and any subsequent pricing adjustments before the 2026 deadline, will further indicate whether Microsoft’s aggressive pricing can sustainably disrupt the transcription market.
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