Mysk🇨🇦🇩🇪Sep 11, 2025

Live Translation with AirPods is not going to be available in the EU. This means that it doesn't use on-device AI model and the microphones forward everything to remote servers 🤯

UPDATE: Before this post goes out of control. The DMA can also be a reason why this feature is not available in the EU:

https://infosec.exchange/@hacksilon/115185978397645868

#Apple #privacy #infosec

Show threadMax Maass 
@mysk @GossiTheDog I would bet that this isn’t about GDPR but about the digital markets act, in which case on-device or off device doesn’t make a difference. Since they can’t offer the feature with 3rd party headphones, they say they can’t ship it at all. Same as with screen mirroring from iPhone to Mac. Wouldn’t use this announcement to infer anything about on- vs. Off-device.
Sep 11, 2025 at 1:49pmWeb
Show threadMysk🇨🇦🇩🇪Sep 11, 2025
@hacksilon @GossiTheDog
What you say is accurate, but Apple surprisingly didn't use the term "on-device" when they mentioned Live Translation. This is weird because normally they would stress it. In the keynote they said "combined with Apple Intelligence models running on iPhone" and in the announcement they avoided saying "on-device"
Show threadMax Maass Sep 11, 2025
@mysk Yep - I agree that the fact that they don't say "on-device" is interesting. Just didn't want to claim that there is a causal link it to the lack of a launch in Europe. Thanks for sharing the clarification!
Show threadMysk🇨🇦🇩🇪Sep 11, 2025
@hacksilon @GossiTheDog Can I share your reply on X? I would share a screenshot of it to add more context to the post.
Show threadAlex RSep 11, 2025
@hacksilon @mysk @GossiTheDog yeah, if it's available in the UK, which has essentially identical GDPR rules to the EU, it's not likely to be that.
Show threadZimmieSep 11, 2025

@hacksilon @mysk @GossiTheDog This is likely. Live Translation for Phone and FaceTime in iOS 26 supposedly runs locally on the phone (it specifically requires iPhone 15 or later), and it’s available in the EU.

The difference between that and Live Translation with AirPods is the additional device.