Apple Watch Series 12 audio AI features enter beta
Apple began beta testing AI-powered audio intelligence for the Apple Watch Series 12, including sound detection and conversation transcription. The features are initially available in India and are designed to balance utility with privacy concerns.
Apple started beta testing its AI-powered audio intelligence for the Apple Watch Series 12 on Tuesday for developers in the iOS 27.3 update. The update includes four opt-in features: detecting important sounds, identifying songs via Shazam, catching up on conversations, and taking notes. Sound recognition is intended to help deaf and hard-of-hearing users identify sirens, alarms, or doorbells. A feature called Live Rewind allows users to double-press the digital crown to view a text snippet of the last 15 seconds of audio, which can be saved to the standalone Siri app or discarded. The feature set is initially available in India but has not yet rolled out in the US. Apple designed these features to address privacy concerns surrounding AI recording devices, such as Meta's AI glasses, by providing users with control over what is recorded and retained.