Recently, Apple has shifted its focus for AirPods, aiming to enhance their appeal with a wellness-oriented approach rather than simply promoting them as basic wireless earbuds. The AirPods Pro 2 introduced a Loud Sound Reduction feature last year, along with a hearing test system and an in-built hearing aid capability.
Now, the company appears to be preparing for a new upgrade. Reports suggest that Apple is planning to launch a real-time translation feature for AirPods later this year. This initiative aims to bridge communication gaps in face-to-face interactions.
The anticipated feature is currently in development and is expected to be included in the iOS 19 software update. Designed to facilitate two-way translation, the system will work collaboratively with both the AirPods and the iPhone.
How it works?
In this system, the iPhone will act as the translation hub. It will convert language A into language B and send the translated audio to the AirPods user. Simultaneously, spoken language B will be translated back into language A and played through the iPhone’s speaker for the other participant.
Details regarding Apple's choice of translation engine remain unclear, including whether the approach will incorporate AI and how many languages it will support. Nonetheless, the feature promises significant utility, though Apple is not the first to offer such capabilities.
Apple is late to the game
Google has provided this functionality for some time with its Pixel-branded earbuds, leveraging Google Translate to support nearly 40 languages. Users can choose between a live Conversation Mode for interactive voice chats or the Transcribe Mode for different needs.
Other brands have also entered the “translation earbuds” market. The Earfun AirPro 4+ earbuds, for example, launched earlier this year with AI-assisted real-time translation features, while the Mymanu Click and Mars earbuds have offered this benefit since 2017.
There is even a niche dedicated to translation earbuds, with products like the Timekettle X1 catering to business and enterprise needs. Additionally, AI chatbots such as Google’s Gemini also provide translation services.
Apple has options regarding its approach, especially given its existing partnership with OpenAI, which allows for integrations of ChatGPT capabilities whenever Siri requires enhancement. Developments in neural machine translation have also been significant, with several open-source models readily available.
For instance, Meta open-sourced its AI translation tool, supporting almost 200 languages, in 2022. However, given Apple’s emphasis on privacy, the company may choose to collaborate with a trusted partner or develop its proprietary technology for on-device translations, ensuring both speed and security.
