Key facts
- Apple CEO John Ternus and SVP Greg Joswiak addressed privacy concerns regarding new AI listening features for the Apple Watch.
- The new features, 'Siri Recap' and 'Live Rewind,' are designed to generate notes or display recent conversation snippets without storing audio.
- Apple stated that the features only activate when on-device AI detects speech and do not record or store audio, nor do they include speaker attribution.
- Live Rewind displays the last 15 seconds of conversation as text on the Apple Watch screen, with visual cues to alert users.
- Both features will be available in beta later this year.
Apple executives John Ternus and Greg Joswiak addressed privacy concerns surrounding new AI-enabled listening features for the upcoming Apple Watch models, drawing a distinction from other AI wearables.
During an interview, Ternus was asked about the public backlash against AI glasses, such as Meta's, which have been labeled 'pervert glasses.' Joswiak quipped about the marketing slogan, and Ternus emphasized Apple's goal to make its new features comfortable for both users and those around them.
The new features, 'Siri Recap' and 'Live Rewind,' are designed to process conversations for high-level notes or to display the last 15 seconds of dialogue as text on the Apple Watch screen. Apple asserts that these features do not record or store audio, and they do not include speaker attribution. The company also stated that it does not have access to raw audio files, which Joswiak noted prevents compelled disclosure.
Live Rewind includes visual cues on the Apple Watch screen, similar to the alert light on Meta's AI glasses, to inform bystanders that the device is processing recent conversation. Both features are slated for a beta release later this year.
The executives highlighted that existing apps already allow for recording, but Apple aims to differentiate its approach to information gathering on AI devices, focusing on user comfort and privacy.