Minister says recording device found in Czech cabinet chamber was his AI note-taker

A smart recording device found earlier this year in the Czech government's cabinet chamber at the Straka Academy belonged to Sports Minister Boris Šťastný, he said after media reports raised questions about the discovery.

The news website Seznam Zprávy reported that neither the police nor the intelligence services had been informed after the device was found in the government meeting room.

Šťastný, a member of the Motorists party, said the device was an AI-powered recorder he uses to transcribe his notes and speeches and that he had lost it several months ago. He added that the media report had finally revealed where it had ended up.

A government spokeswoman said the device posed no security risk, despite the fact that the cabinet discusses classified matters in the chamber and strict rules apply to recording. In response to journalists’ questions she said the recorder was discovered by staff during routine cleaning. It was reportedly switched off and not concealed, indicating that it had simply been misplaced.