Apple plans AirPods feature that can live-translate conversations

 Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab is planning a new AirPods feature that would allow the device to live-translate conversations with people into another language, Bloomberg  reported on Thursday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.

According to Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman, the feature will be offered as a part of an AirPods software upgrade later this year, the report said, and will be tied to the iOS 19 update to its mobile operating system.

As noted by Gurman, the feature can help translate a conversation from, for example, Spanish to English by playing a translated version of the speech into the English-speaker’s AirPods. When the English speaker responds, their iPhone will then play the Spanish translation from its speakers. Apple didn’t immediately respond to The Verge’s request for comment.

Last week, Apple announced that it’s delaying its AI-upgraded Siri, saying, “It’s going to take longer than we thought to deliver on these features.” The company is also planning to overhaul the design of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS this year, according to Gurman.