AirPods live translations rumor

The AirPods will be able to provide a simpler translation process for people who are speaking different languages, though the process will rely on the Translate app on the iPhone.

If an English speaker with AirPods is talking to someone who is speaking Spanish, the  iPhone  will detect the audio, translate the speech, and relay it back in English to the person wearing AirPods. The person speaking English will then be able to respond and have their response translated to Spanish and spoken aloud by the  iPhone .

I’ve tried numerous times to learn Spanish. As a child I spent a year in Puerto Rico. I also spent three Summers in Arizona working alongside Spanish speakers. The language is partially there, but limited through lack of use.

Occasionally I bump into someone that speaks only Spanish. In those moments I’ll try to lean on my tiny vocabulary and decades old memory and reach across the language barrier. It’s magical when it happens, but through my own lack of practice the opportunities are rare.

One time I was sitting in an airport beside a woman who only spoke Spanish. We tried to communicate. Finally I pulled out my phone and typed the English words into Google Translate. It was slow but we managed to start a conversation.

Years ago at Google I/O I saw a demo of this very concept with Android and Pixel Buds.

Bringing this technology to AirPods and iPhone—if it works—would be truly magical. I know that Apple’s been missing in some critical areas recently, but I continue to be delighted with the advances and practical uses of AirPods. Here’s to hoping we can all test this out come fall.

Via MacRumors.