Investing.com -- Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL ). is preparing to launch a software upgrade for its AirPods that will enable users to live-translate conversations into different languages, according to a report from Bloomberg, citing sources. This innovation is set to be part of an AirPods software update due later this year and will be tied to iOS 19, the forthcoming update to Apple’s mobile-device operating system.

This new feature will allow an English speaker, for example, to understand someone speaking in Spanish. The iPhone will translate the Spanish speech and relay it to the user’s AirPods in English. Simultaneously, the English speaker’s words will be translated into Spanish and played back by the iPhone.

While other earbud manufacturers, such as Google (NASDAQ: GOOGL ) with its Pixel Buds, have offered this feature for some time, and Apple’s own Translate app has been available on the iPhone since 2020, this is a new development for AirPods users.

The software upgrade is part of a larger overhaul of Apple’s software this year.

In addition to software upgrades, Apple is also developing new AirPods hardware, including a third-generation version of the AirPods Pro and a model with built-in cameras that utilize artificial intelligence to analyze the surrounding environment. Last year, the company introduced new colors for the AirPods Max headphones and low-end AirPods 4 models.

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