With the WWDC 2024 event filled with AI announcements, it is only fitting that Apple would also release updates for its devices that would allow it to better communicate with the new features. One of those devices will be the AirPods Pro, with updates that are set to arrive this year.
AirPods Pro Update
Now that Apple is improving Siri using AI, it is expected that the virtual assistant will see a surge in use among Apple devices. Although the company did not provide an exact launch date, an update will soon be released for AirPods Pro that will allow users to use head gestures to answer.
If for instance, a person doesn't want to appear like they are talking to themselves, they can then nod "yes" and shake their head for "no," and the AirPods would be able to understand it and relay the message to Siri, as reported by Engadget.
Apple demonstrated how this update would work with a man in a crowded elevator getting a call, wherein he shook his head to reject it. It's not limited to simply answering calls as it can also apply to other functions like managing notifications and interacting with messages.
Even when the user does answer a call in public with all the background noises, it would still not be a problem due to a feature that is included with the update. Aptly named Voice Isolation, the AirPods Pro will only pick up the voice of its wearer.
Of course, Apple also presented a demonstration showing the feature at work with the user in the middle of a commute with loud construction noises nearby. The sound on the other end, however, remained clear and all that was heard was the speaker's voice.
Both features were made possible with the Apple H2 chip within the second-generation AirPods Pro. While it is speculated that Siri Interactions and Voice Isolation will also be added to other models, they are still rumors and to be taken with a grain of salt.
Siri Getting an AI Upgrade for iOS 18
The new AI-powered Siri is among the biggest news that Apple announced during WWDC 2024, considering that Apple users have been waiting for the virtual assistant to be improved for a while now. The new updates will arrive with the installation of iOS 18.
With what the tech giant calls "Apple Intelligence," users will be able to use it to control actions without lifting a finger. Siri, in particular, would be able to perform actions like retrieving information from user emails, extracting information from images, and so on, as per The Verge.
It is even capable of finding a specific image and using the retrieved data to fill out important forms. Other than calling on Siri, users can tap the bottom of their screen twice and they can provide commands via typing it or through voice.
The company stated that Siri now has "on-screen awareness," which allows it to automatically perform actions based on what you are currently doing. For instance, receiving a message stating that a person has a new phone number will prompt Siri to update the contact information on your device.
