Microsoft releases MAI-Transcribe-2 with diarization and word timestamps
Microsoft released MAI-Transcribe-2 for batch speech recognition with speaker diarization, word-level timestamps, keyword biasing, configurable verbatim or clean styles, code switching and automatic language detection across 60 languages. The launch price was $0.10 per audio hour for a limited period.
Why it matters: A low-cost transcription model with diarization and formatting controls can reduce pipeline complexity for meeting, media and support workflows. Accuracy, consent, speaker attribution and domain vocabulary still need workload-specific tests before regulated…