Appleは、iOS 19とともにAirPods向けのライブ翻訳機能を提供する予定で、今秋のリリースが期待されています。AppleやSamsung、Googleなどの他のブランドはすでにリアルタイム翻訳機能を導入しており、Googleは2017年にPixel Budsに初めて追加しましたが、Appleはその実現に時間をかけているようです。最近では、Appleは聴覚健康機能の強化やイヤホンにカメラを組み込むことに注力してきました。今後、AppleはついにAirPodsユーザー向けにシームレスなリアルタイム言語翻訳を実現し、コミュニケーションのギャップをスムーズに埋めることを目指しているようです。

Real-time translation in AirPods: what to expect

The news comes via the well-connected Mark Gurman at Bloomberg (paywall), who says that it'll deliver a "Star Trek-like experience to AirPods users".

According to the report, the feature will make use of your AirPods as well as your iPhone. Your phone will translate the other person's speech and play that translation in your AirPods; it'll then take your speech, translate it and play that to the other person via your iPhone's speaker.

The feature will be tied to iOS 19, which should be widely compatible with iPhones going back several years – though if the feature is billed as being part of Apple Intelligence, it may be limited to only newer devices.

And if it's made available to every model of AirPods, I'll be amazed: I suspect it'll be reserved for Apple's more premium earbuds with active noise cancellation, to make sure you can be focused on people's voices.

But perhaps I'll be wrong and it'll be a nice upgrade for all the best AirPods – after all, the iPhone seems to be doing the heavy lifting.

With AirPods Pro 3 expected later this year, it's possible Apple will decide to make the feature exclusive to its newest buds, though I think that's unlikely.