AI transcription has improved enormously but if you’ve ever used it to transcribe a technical report, you’ll know that the occasional mistake can still slip through.
Sometimes the errors are obvious and sometimes they’re surprisingly convincing - those are the ones worth watching.
Property reports contain plenty of terminology that general speech-to-text systems may struggle with.
We’ve previously written about the difficulties AI can have with words such as cornicing and other specialist surveying terms. See our earlier article on AI mishearing surveying terminology.
A transcription error might produce a word that looks perfectly reasonable but changes the meaning of the sentence. Numbers and measurements can also be problematic.
A small error in a figure may have a significant effect on the information presented.
When our typists prepare documents, they proofread and check their work before returning it. Their familiarity with property terminology helps them recognise wording that may need attention.
However, proofreading has its limits. If a recording is unclear or a technical statement needs verification, we may need to refer it back to the surveyor.
The same applies to AI-generated drafts. We can identify apparent errors, improve formatting and flag inconsistencies, but technical accuracy and professional approval remain the surveyor’s responsibility.
As AI becomes more widely used, we expect more clients to need help checking and preparing documents they’ve already drafted.
That may involve correcting transcription errors, applying the firm’s template, checking document consistency or identifying sections that need clarification.
For some clients, that could become more useful than traditional transcription. For others, dictation will remain the preferred method. We intend to support both.
A report can be produced quickly and still require a considerable amount of attention before it’s ready to issue.
Professional proofreading and document formatting help reduce that final administrative workload. If AI has made an unusual interpretation of a surveying term, an experienced human reader may be able to spot it before it becomes an embarrassing mistake.
BackupTyping provides transcription, proofreading and document formatting support for chartered surveyors and property professionals. Contact us to discuss your requirements on 020 7096 1663 or email.
