The World in Your Ear: How AirPods’ Live Translation Will Work

The most futuristic feature unveiled at Apple’s latest event was the live translation capability in the new AirPods Pro 3. This technology promises to turn your earbuds into a personal interpreter, but how will it actually work in a real-world conversation?
Based on similar technologies, the process will likely be deeply integrated with the iPhone. When the feature is activated, the iPhone’s microphone will listen to the person speaking a foreign language. The phone’s processor, likely using a combination of on-device and cloud-based AI, will then translate their speech into your native language in near real-time.
This translated audio will be sent wirelessly to your AirPods Pro 3 and played directly into your ears. This allows for a more natural flow of conversation than using a translation app where you have to pass a phone back and forth. The system will also likely use the AirPods’ microphones to capture your speech, translate it, and play it through the iPhone’s speaker for the other person to hear.
This seamless integration between the phone and the earbuds is key to the experience. While the technology has existed, Apple’s expertise in user-friendly software could make it more accessible and reliable than ever before. The feature positions the $249 AirPods as an essential tool for anyone navigating a multilingual world.