# New: Notetaker transcription keyword hints

Source: https://developer.nylas.com/docs/changelogs/2026-06-24-notetaker-transcription-keywords/

Notetaker now accepts optional keyword hints when transcribing meetings. Use them when meetings are full of domain-specific terms that automatic transcription tends to mis-hear, such as people's names, company names, product names, and acronyms. Passing those terms in `keywords` biases the recognizer toward them, and `use_speaker_names_as_keywords` adds known speaker names to that set automatically.

Keyword hints share the `transcription_settings` object with the existing language hints, but the two are independent. You can set keywords on their own, without `expected_languages` or `fallback_language`. `transcription` must be `true` for any of these settings to take effect.

## Added

- **`transcription_settings.keywords`** — An array of up to 1000 terms to prioritize during transcription. Each term must be 1 to 200 characters and cannot contain control characters. Cannot be `null`. The terms bias recognition toward domain-specific vocabulary the model would otherwise mis-transcribe.

- **`transcription_settings.use_speaker_names_as_keywords`** — A boolean. When `true`, Notetaker adds known speaker names to the keyword set so they're transcribed accurately. Cannot be `null`.

- **Keyword and language hints are independent** — `expected_languages` is now optional. Set `keywords` alone, language hints alone, or both in the same `transcription_settings` object. `fallback_language` still requires `expected_languages`, but `expected_languages` works on its own.

- **Available wherever `meeting_settings` is accepted** — Set on individual Notetakers ([`POST`](/docs/reference/api/notetaker/invite-notetaker/) / [`PATCH`](/docs/reference/api/notetaker/update-notetaker/), grant-based or [standalone](/docs/reference/api/standalone-notetaker/invite-standalone-notetaker/)), on calendars (so all matching events inherit the setting), or on individual events (which override anything inherited from the calendar). Send `transcription_settings: null` or `{}` to clear inherited settings and return to default transcription behavior.

- **[Set transcription languages guide](/docs/v3/notetaker/#set-transcription-languages)** — Now covers keyword hints alongside language hints, including the validation limits and how the composite object is replaced as a whole.