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What is OpenAI Whisper?
Whisper is a free speech recognition model from OpenAI that turns spoken audio into written text.
- Category Media & creative
- Also called OpenAI Whisper
- Updated 20 Oct 2026
Whisper, explained simply
Whisper is an open model that listens to audio and writes down the words. It works in many languages and can also translate speech into English.
You can run it on your own computer, so your audio stays with you. Many apps use it behind the scenes for captions and notes.
This matters because good transcription used to cost money. Whisper made it free for anyone to try.
It can make mistakes with noise or names, and sometimes writes words that were not said. Review the result.
On ITG Now, free tool guides include speech tools built on Whisper, with install steps.
Related terms
Speech-to-textLocal AIOpen sourceText-to-speechAI modelModel weights
Where you'll see it on ITG Now
- GuideMeetily: Free AI Meeting Note Taker That Stays Private
- GuideHandy: Free Offline Voice Typing App (2026 Guide)
Questions people ask about Whisper
Is Whisper free?
Yes. The model is open source and free to run on your own computer. OpenAI also offers a paid online service.
Is Whisper safe for private audio?
If you run it on your own computer, the audio doesn't leave it. Check how any app using it handles your data.
Whisper vs text-to-speech: what is the difference?
Whisper turns speech into text. Text-to-speech does the opposite.