Archive · 12 Sep 2026
Apple Says New AI Watches Won’t Record Audio
Apple has added new AI features to some of its watches.
One feature can show a transcript of things a person said recently.
Another can summarize conversations from the day.
These features have raised questions about privacy.
Apple says the watches do not save audio for people to play back later.
The company also says it cannot access the original audio files.
The watches may show visual cues when the live rewind feature is being used.
Apple says this design should make people nearby feel more comfortable.
Apple says the Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 do not record conversations for later playback.
The watches’ transcript feature can display what users said during the previous 15 minutes.
Siri Recap is designed to summarize a user’s conversations from the day.
Apple says the devices use speaker attribution and that it cannot access raw audio files.
Apple executives contrasted the approach with privacy concerns surrounding Meta’s AI glasses, including questions about recording in public.
- Who
- Apple, including executives Greg Joswiak and Ternus, is discussing the privacy design of its new AI-enabled watch features.
- What
- Apple launched the Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 with transcription, Siri Recap, and Live Rewind-related features, while saying the watches do not record audio for later playback.
- When
- The features were discussed around the launch of the Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4; the article does not give an exact date.
- Where
- The discussion was reported in connection with an interview involving Tom’s Guide Editor-in-Chief Mark Spoonauer; no specific physical location is provided.
- Why
- Apple says it designed the features to address privacy concerns and help users and people nearby feel comfortable with the technology.
Apple’s Privacy Approach
Privacy Concerns
Whether the watches record conversations
Apple’s Privacy Approach
Apple says the watches process the relevant information without recording audio for later playback.
Privacy Concerns
Privacy concerns remain because the watches can generate transcripts of recent speech and summaries of daily conversations.
Access to user audio
Apple’s Privacy Approach
Apple says it will not have access to raw audio files and has emphasized speaker attribution.
Privacy Concerns
Critics and users are questioning how wearable devices capture, process, and handle everyday conversations and data.
Visibility to people nearby
Apple’s Privacy Approach
Apple says visual cues in Live Rewind are intended to make users and people around them more comfortable.
Privacy Concerns
The comparison with Meta’s AI glasses reflects concern that AI wearables could capture information in public without people nearby feeling adequately informed.
- Products
- Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4
- Recent transcript
- The transcript feature covers what users spoke about during the previous 15 minutes.
- Siri Recap
- The feature is described as summarizing the day’s conversations.
- Audio storage
- Apple says the watches do not record audio for later playback.
- Raw audio access
- Apple says it will not have access to raw audio files.
- Privacy indicator
- Live Rewind includes visual cues comparable to the recording light on Meta’s AI glasses.