Apple is planning a new AirPods feature that allows the earbuds to live-translate an in-person conversation into another language, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
The capability would be offered as part of an AirPods software upgrade due later this year, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the effort is private. It will be tied to iOS 19, the upcoming update to Apple’s mobile-device operating system.
Rival earbuds, such as Google Pixel Buds, have had the option for years. And Apple has offered its in-house Translate app on the iPhone since 2020.
Still, the move promises to bring a Star Trek-like experience to AirPods users. The capability will work like this: If an English speaker is hearing someone talk in Spanish, the iPhone will translate the speech and relay it to the user’s AirPods in English. The English speaker’s words, meanwhile, will be translated into Spanish and played back by the iPhone.
A spokeswoman for Cupertino, California-based Apple declined to comment.
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