Apple to Introduce Real-Time Language Translation for AirPods with iOS 19

Apple may bring real-time language translation to AirPods with iOS 19 this fall

The answer is 42: The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy introduced the world to the Babel fish - a tiny, yellow creature that could instantly translate any spoken language when inserted into the ear. While Apple's latest plans may not involve intergalactic hitchhiking, they could bring users one step closer to effortless real-time multilanguage communication. Anonymous insiders told Bloomberg that Apple is developing a new AirPods feature that translates in-person conversations in real-time. The functionality, expected to launch later this year, will be included in an AirPods software update tied to iOS 19, Apple's next major mobile operating system release. The technology lets speakers of different languages communicate seamlessly. For example, if someone speaks Spanish, the iPhone translates their words and sends the English version to the listener's AirPods. It does the same in reverse, translating the English speaker's words into Spanish and playing them aloud through the iPhone. Apple introduced its native Translate app in 2020, but this is the first time it has built real-time translation directly into its earbuds. A spokeswoman for Apple declined to comment on the development. Live translation features are not entirely new in the industry. Google's Pixel Buds have supported similar functionality for years. However, Apple's ecosystem-driven approach could make its implementation more seamless, potentially offering a more polished experience for users already invested in its hardware. The update is part of Apple's broader software overhaul this year, including what Bloomberg has described as the most significant revamp of iOS to date and major macOS changes. Apple is also working to enhance translation technology beyond the AirPods feature. Apple has steadily expanded the capabilities of its earbuds via software updates, adding new features without requiring users to purchase new hardware. Last year, the company introduced hearing health functions for second-generation AirPods Pro, including an FDA-approved hearing aid mode and self-administered hearing tests. That is not to say that Cupertino is ignoring hardware innovations. The company is working on new AirPods hardware, including a third-generation AirPods Pro model and an experimental version with built-in cameras powered by artificial intelligence.

Apple working on live translation feature for AirPods with iOS 19

We're only three months away from the next WWDC, when Apple will unveil iOS 19. According to recent rumors, the update will be a big one, focusing on introducing a new design for the iPhone and iPad operating system. But it seems that Apple has other cards up its sleeve, as a new report from Bloomberg says that iOS 19 will have a live translation feature for AirPods. Citing sources familiar with the matter, Mark Gurman says that the feature will be able to translate a live "in-person conversation" from one language to another. The feature will be offered for current AirPods models as part of the iOS 19 update later this year. For instance, if an English-speaking user is listening to someone speaking in another language, the iPhone will use the AirPods' microphones to automatically translate the speech. The iPhone will then translate the English speech into another language in real time. It's unclear whether the new feature will be exclusive to the latest generation AirPods Pro or whether Apple will make it available for older models as well. Last year with iOS 18, Apple introduced new hearing health features for the second-generation AirPods Pro. Bloomberg reported earlier this week that Apple has big plans for its operating systems. This includes introducing a new design that will make the interface more consistent between iOS, macOS, and visionOS. Apple also plans to "simplify the way users navigate and control their devices." As for AirPods, the company has been exploring the idea of putting cameras in its wireless earbuds. The cameras would be used to power artificial intelligence features, such as Visual Intelligence, without the need to take the iPhone out of your pocket. However, there's still a long way to go before the release of these rumored AirPods with built-in cameras.

Apple might arm AirPods with live translation facility this year

Table of Contents Table of Contents How it works? Apple is late to the game Apple has lately focused on giving the AirPods more of a wellness-focused makeover than hawking them as plain wireless earbuds. Late last year, the AirPods Pro 2 landed a Loud Sound Reduction feature, alongside a hearing test system and hearing aid facility. Now, the company is reportedly eyeing a conversational upgrade for them. According to Bloomberg, Apple plans to bring a real-time translation facility to the AirPods later this year. The focus is on removing the language barrier for in-person conversations. Recommended Videos The feature is said to be in active development and might be rolled out via a software update later this year, tied to the iOS 19 bundle. It's going to be a two-way translation system where the AirPods and iPhone play an equal role. Please enable Javascript to view this content How it works? The iPhone will serve as the translation hub. It will translate language A into language B, sending the translated audio to the person wearing the Apple earbuds. Meanwhile, language B will be translated into language A, and the translated audio stream will be played via the iPhone's speaker for the other person. It is not clear what translation engine Apple is going to use, nor does the report mention whether it's going to be an AI-assisted approach and how many languages the system will support. Either way, the facility is meaningful, but Apple won't be the first to the market. Apple is late to the game Google's Pixel-branded wireless earbuds have offered this convenience for a while now. The company has relied on the Google Translate stack to allow translations in nearly four dozen languages. Users can pick between the live Conversation Mode for direct voice chat, or rely on the Transcribe Mode. Aside from Google, numerous other brands have also jumped on the "translation earbuds" bandwagon. The Earfun AirPro 4+ earbuds, introduced earlier this year, also offer an AI-driven real-time translation trick. The Mymanu Click and Mars earbuds have been offering the perk since 2017. There's even a "translation earbuds" niche, where products such as the Timekettle X1 offer language translation convenience to business and enterprise customers. Meanwhile, AI chatbots such as Google's Gemini also offer language translation facilities. In Apple's case, the company can go in either direction. The company already has a partnership in place with OpenAI, which puts ChatGPT in the driving seat for every occasion where Siri comes up short. Neural machine translation has also developed dramatically and there are multiple open-source models out there up for taking. Meta, for example, open-sourced its AI-assisted translation tool that supports nearly 200 languages, all the way back in 2022. Yet, given Apple's privacy-first approach, the company will either stick to a trusted partner or even deploy its own tech stack that can perform on-device translations, which is safer as well as quicker compared to a cloud-tethered format.

Apple to Bring Live Conversation Translation to AirPods With iOS 19: Report

Apple's AirPods translation feature is said to require an iPhone Apple's AirPods will receive a software update that will introduce a new conversation translation feature, according to a Bloomberg report. The company's truly wireless stereo (TWS) headset will use a connected iPhone's processor to translate in-person conversations in real-time. This feature is currently available on Google's Pixel Buds headsets, when paired with the company's Pixel phones. Apple previously added support for using AirPods as a hearing aid, and a recent report suggests it is also working on AirPods equipped with cameras and artificial intelligence features. Citing people aware of the company's plans, Bloomberg reports that Apple plans to introduce a new in-person conversation translation feature for AirPods that will arrive in the form of a software update later this year. This means that users should be able to access the functionality on existing AirPods models. It will reportedly be available alongside Apple's next major iPhone operating system update -- iOS 19. The real-time conversation translation feature will rely on a connected iPhone, according to the report. It is said to use the smartphone's processor to translate audio received from the AirPods. As a result, a user listening to a non-English speaker would hear a translated version of their message (via the AirPods) while the speaker would hear responses translated from English to their language, via the iPhone's speaker. It's worth noting that Apple wouldn't be the first company to introduce such a feature -- Google brought real-time conversation translation to its Pixel Buds TWS headset in 2017. The feature requires the wireless headset to be connected to a Google Pixel smartphone. Last year, the iPhone maker introduced a feature that allows users to connect their AirPods to an iPhone and use them as over-the-counter hearing aids. Compatible AirPods can also be used to perform a hearing test to check for hearing loss using the wireless headset. The company is reportedly working on a successor to the AirPods Pro (2nd generation), and it is also said to be developing a pair of AirPods that features a camera and AI. Apple's subsidiary Beats recently released the Powerbeats Pro 2, with a heart rate monitoring sensor, and upcoming AirPods and Beats models could arrive with new hardware features.

AirPods software upgrade to offer live translation feature - Bloomberg By Investing.com

Investing.com -- Apple Inc (NASDAQ:AAPL). is preparing to launch a software upgrade for its AirPods that will enable users to live-translate conversations into different languages, according to a report from Bloomberg, citing sources. This innovation is set to be part of an AirPods software update due later this year and will be tied to iOS 19, the forthcoming update to Apple's mobile-device operating system. This new feature will allow an English speaker, for example, to understand someone speaking in Spanish. The iPhone will translate the Spanish speech and relay it to the user's AirPods in English. Simultaneously, the English speaker's words will be translated into Spanish and played back by the iPhone. While other earbud manufacturers, such as Google (NASDAQ:GOOGL) with its Pixel Buds, have offered this feature for some time, and Apple's own Translate app has been available on the iPhone since 2020, this is a new development for AirPods users. The software upgrade is part of a larger overhaul of Apple's software this year. In addition to software upgrades, Apple is also developing new AirPods hardware, including a third-generation version of the AirPods Pro and a model with built-in cameras that utilize artificial intelligence to analyze the surrounding environment. Last year, the company introduced new colors for the AirPods Max headphones and low-end AirPods 4 models.

AirPods will be able to translate in real time with iOS 19: How it is rumored to work? - Softonic

Apple's iOS 19 update may introduce real-time translation for AirPods, allowing users to understand foreign languages instantly through their wireless earbuds. Apple is preparing to unveil a major update with iOS 19, and one of its most exciting features could be real-time translation for AirPods. According to Bloomberg, this innovation would allow AirPods users to understand foreign languages instantly, making in-person conversations more accessible than ever. Sources familiar with Apple's plans suggest that AirPods will use their built-in microphones to capture speech and send it to the iPhone for processing. The device will then translate the spoken words and transmit the translation back to the user's ears, all in real time. This could revolutionize communication for travelers, business professionals, and multilingual households. While has not been confirmed whether this feature will be available for all AirPods models, analysts believe the latest AirPods Pro might be the first to support it. The integration of advanced microphones and improved processing power could make seamless and natural translation a reality. Apple has been expanding its focus on artificial intelligence and accessibility, and this feature aligns with its broader strategy. Alongside iOS 19, Apple is also working on a new system design that unifies iOS, macOS, and visionOS, creating a more intuitive user experience. Additionally, reports suggest Apple is exploring the use of cameras in future AirPods models to enhance AI-powered features. With iOS 19 expected to launch in just a few months, the tech world eagerly awaits confirmation of these rumors. If real-time translation becomes a reality, AirPods could redefine how we communicate across languages.