The landscape of earbuds is evolving beyond pure audio playback, with a new category emerging: AI-powered productivity tools. Leading this charge are the Oso AI Earbuds, which integrate OpenAI's powerful GPT-5 model to transform how professionals handle meetings, calls, and conversations.

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Main image: The Oso AI Earbuds case features a unique touchscreen interface.

Core Functionality: Beyond Music
Priced at $249, the Oso buds prioritize functionality over audiophile sound. Their standout feature is the integration with Laxis AI meeting notetaker, enabling:
* High-fidelity recording of calls, meetings, and in-person conversations
* Accurate, near real-time transcription powered by GPT-5
* AI-generated summaries with bullet points and action items
* Translation capabilities for multilingual conversations

During testing, the transcription quality proved highly accurate, rivaling dedicated software services. The summarization feature was notably fast and effective, producing concise overviews comparable to outputs from Google Gemini. Phone call recording, often a technical challenge, functioned seamlessly with only a subtle notification tone alerting the other party.

Hardware and App Experience
The earbuds feature 13mm dynamic drivers, Bluetooth 5.2, and a dual beamforming microphone array. The case includes a distinctive touchscreen display showing time, battery levels (for buds and case), EQ settings, and playback controls. While innovative, the touchscreen proved sensitive, sometimes activating accidentally in pockets – though it can be disabled.

The companion app serves as the hub for all recordings and transcripts. Users can:
* Play back audio synchronized with the transcript
* Generate and share summaries
* Access past conversations
* Utilize LaxisChat (a GPT-5 powered chatbot for querying recorded content, requires premium)

Trade-offs and Premium Tier
Significant limitations exist:
* No Active Noise Cancellation (ANC): Ambient noise easily overwhelms music playback, making them unsuitable as primary listening devices in noisy environments like public transit.
* Premium Paywall: While the free tier offers 300 minutes of monthly transcription/summaries and 1,000 minutes of cloud storage, advanced features like LaxisChat require a $119/year subscription.
* Value Proposition: At $249, they compete directly with premium buds like AirPods Pro 3, which offer superior sound, ANC, and increasingly robust built-in AI features on compatible Apple devices. Similar AI summarization is also becoming native in platforms like Google Chromebook Plus (Gemini) and Samsung Galaxy devices.

Verdict: A Niche Productivity Powerhouse
The Oso AI Earbuds carve out a distinct niche. For professionals – journalists, consultants, researchers, or anyone drowning in meetings – who prioritize effortless, accurate documentation and summarization above all else, they deliver tangible value. The ability to record calls cleanly and house transcripts/summaries in one app is powerful.

However, they are supplementary tools, not primary earbuds. Their audio performance is functional but unremarkable, and the lack of ANC is a major drawback for general use. The subscription cost for full functionality adds a significant long-term investment. For those seeking consolidated, AI-driven meeting notes without relying on multiple apps or manual transcription, the Oso buds offer a compelling, albeit specialized, solution. Their success hinges entirely on whether the unique productivity gains justify the cost and hardware compromises for your specific workflow.

Source: Adapted from ZDNET review by Kyle Kucharski (Sept 22, 2025)