Apple AirPods 3 Comes With Live Translation Feature

 Over the weekend Apple released their newest and most advanced Airpod Pro, the creatively named "Apple Airpod Pro 3". I am not normally inclined to write a new tech product review in an economics blog. However, this article, and the new technology in the Airpod is truly revolutionary and may be the first step towards never having to learn a foreign language ever again. Here is a blurb from Apple, 

"

With Live Translation,

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." 

This is revolutionary for many of us American, and British folk who tend to be incapable of learning foreign languages and rely solely upon others having a working knowledge of English when traveling internationally. 

Madison Darbyshire, an editor at Bloomberg.com writes about how the future of being able to translate perfectly, and to not have to "Try" will be of no benefit to humanity. Madison iscusses the joy and learning moments that come from mispronouncing your butchered French to a Maitre'd while trying to ask for a table for two. Or the intellectual stimulation that comes from trying to learn and understand a foreign language. Madison writes, 

"Technology has already all but eliminated the chance of getting lost on our way to dinner, limiting opportunities to stumble upon things we didn’t even know we were looking for. What happens when we stop misunderstanding, misreading and mistranslating? How much serendipity — and comedy — will simply cease?

Some of the best dishes I’ve ever eaten abroad showed up after I accidentally nodded yes when I meant no to a waiter listing specials faster than an auctioneer. It’s happened less and less since Google made it possible to translate a photo of a menu in real time, but my anecdotes have suffered. It would have made for a much better story if in Vietnam I’d actually ordered the goat testicles, thinking I was asking for chops."

I tend to agree with Madison, trying, and failing to learn Italian and French have led to some of the most fun, vulnerable, and cheerful memories I have. The future looks different, and while this technology will be useful, some of the charm of traveling, and trying and failing to immerse yourself in another's culture may be fading.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-10-31/apple-airpods-new-translation-feature-has-a-major-downside?srnd=homepage-americas