On September 9, 2025 Apple released its newest products and software updates. Among the various products and features was an unexpected feature on an unexpected product. The latest iPods feature live translation. A feature that translates in near real time as you listen to the person speaking. If both people in the conversation are speaking to each other the feature is actually enhanced with live translation that includes slight noise cancellation to help the listener hear the live translation.
Apple: Powered by Apple Intelligence, you can listen to people speaking in different languages and hear translations through your AirPods Pro 3. To respond, just speak naturally, and your words will appear in the other person’s language on your iPhone screen. To make the experience even more magical, if you both have AirPods Pro 3, you can each speak in your own language and hear translations through your AirPods.
Initially this may seem like the end of language learning. But maybe this creates a new live approach to language learning that encourages and facilitates rather then replacing or eliminating. I’m sure it will be easy to get lazy with them but the potential for them to be used intentionally to learn and speak a language seems significant.
Source: https://www.apple.com/ca/airpods-pro/
