Sound Recognition

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 add AI listening features with on-device privacy safeguards

Apple's new Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 include four opt-in 'audio intelligence' tools—sound and music recognition, conversation recap, and a 'Live Rewind' feature that transcribes the last 15 seconds of ambient speech. Apple says these features rely on the microphone but don't record or store raw audio, processing most data locally via a new secure chip component called the Secure Exclave, with any cloud processing handled through Apple's Private Cloud Compute system.

wired.com · 2026-09-09

Apple publishes 50-item guide to accessibility features for aging users

Apple released a support page listing 50 ways users can adapt their devices as they age, organized into ten categories covering vision, hearing, mobility and cognition. The list draws mostly on existing accessibility settings, such as enlarging text, boosting contrast, and Sound Recognition, which can alert users to doorbells, alarms or appliance beeps. The release coincides with Apple's 50th anniversary and highlights features many customers may not know already exist.

9to5mac.com · 2026-08-25