GoKawiilApple's New Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Add On-Device Audio Intelligence Suite
Apple unveiled its Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro line and foldable iPhone Duo at its 'Surprise and Shine' event, highlighting a new Audio Intelligence system for the watches. The feature set includes ambient sound alerts for things like sirens and doorbells, a Live Rewind tool that transcribes the previous 15 seconds of speech via a crown double-tap, and a Siri Recap function that summarizes key conversations for later reference.
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Building sound recognition and transcription directly into the watch, powered by on-device AI, extends accessibility support to users with hearing loss without needing a paired iPhone nearby. It also signals Apple pushing ambient computing further onto the wrist, competing with rivals on always-listening convenience features while keeping processing local for privacy and speed.
- New Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 include an Audio Intelligence feature set.
- Live Rewind transcribes the last 15 seconds of speech via a double-tap on the crown.
- Ambient sound alerts and Siri Recap work using on-device AI, even without an iPhone present.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 — If the new Audio Intelligence features have you eyeing an upgrade, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is the current rugged flagship with a bright display, multi-day battery and a titanium case built for hiking, diving and daily wear. It's a great way to get on-wrist notifications, workouts and health tracking without your iPhone in hand.
See Apple Watch Ultra 2 on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: cnet.com — Blake Stimac, 2026-09-09
Published there as: “Apple Introduces New Audio Intelligence Features for Apple Watch”
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