Case Study:Human vs AI Transcription – Cost and Accuracy Compared

Discover how AI-generated transcripts compare to professional human transcription in terms of accuracy, cost, and efficiency in this McGowan Transcriptions case study.

Client Objectives

A client approached us with a set of one-to-one interview recordings. Instead of commissioning fresh transcripts from the audio, they asked us to review and correct transcripts that had already been produced by a leading AI transcription service. The aim was to see whether editing AI-generated transcripts could be a faster and more cost-effective alternative to professional human transcription. 

Our Approach

Our team worked through 15 transcripts, checking each against the original audio. We corrected errors such as misheard words, missing sections, inconsistent speaker identification, and inaccurate punctuation. US spellings were standardised to UK English, and unnecessary stutters were removed. Importantly, we left the AI-generated timestamps unchanged to reduce time and cost for the client. 

The Results

The findings were clear. Only two of the fifteen transcripts were quicker and more cost-efficient to edit than to transcribe from scratch. The rest required such extensive amendments that the time and cost outweighed any potential savings. 

Key Insights

• Sections of audio omitted entirely by the AI, leaving transcripts incomplete. 
• Speaker identification either missing or inaccurate, causing confusion. 
• Timestamps that did not align with the audio, rendering them unusable. 

The cost difference across all 15 files was approximately £500 + VAT – a significant figure when compared with the predictability of human transcription, where cost is based on a clear per-minute rate. 

Conclusion

While AI can perform adequately with high-quality dictation, it still falls short for focus group transcription. In this project, professional human transcription proved far more reliable, both in terms of accuracy and cost-effectiveness. 

For clients who require dependable, consistent results, particularly in research or projects involving multiple voices, human transcription for research projects remains the most practical and financially stable choice. 

If you have never used a transcription agency before, or are looking to change your existing provider, please do contact us on 0800 158 3733 or email us at office@mcgowantranscriptions.co.uk. 

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