inomfoodSep 11, 2025
Mysk🇨🇦🇩🇪

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

Sep 11, 2025 at 1:07pmWeb
Show threadMysk🇨🇦🇩🇪Sep 11, 2025

In the official announcement "on-device AI model" was only used in the workout section. Yikes!

https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/09/introducing-airpods-pro-3-the-ultimate-audio-experience/

Show threadderptronSep 11, 2025

@mysk I like how they list a bunch of features users would want but absolutely do not need AI of any sort to create and would be broken if you tried (because you can be more accurate by going directly to the solution instead of doing some sort of statistical approach).

AFAIK the smallest thing that can really run an LLM independently is the Jetson. Stuff on a phone or a pi is going to be more limited but it's possible. The really expensive part about AI is the training, but it's still heavy.

Show threadBlender Dumbass ( J.Y.Amihud )Sep 11, 2025
@mysk Also funny that in the EU something like this is needed more than say in America.
Show thread@PrivacyMattersSep 11, 2025
@mysk any idea why.
Show threadabadideaSep 11, 2025
@Privacymatters @mysk Apple certainly would rather do it on-device, so this implies they couldn’t get it to work well with the limitations of the phone.
Show threadGSep 12, 2025
@Privacymatters @mysk it's because it (artificially) only works with their earphone, when the work is done on the phone and could work with earpiece. it's commercial laws they're breaking not privacy (as far as the regulation bodies knows do far)
Show thread@PrivacyMattersSep 12, 2025
@gcb @mysk from what I can determine it appears to be Apple not playing ball wrt the DMA.
Show threadpenguin42Sep 11, 2025
@mysk Hmm, so you can't do French translation in France. Hmm
Show threadHomebranchSep 11, 2025
@mysk More likely related to DMA. iirc Apple said explicitly that they would ”be forced” to withhold new features from the EU due to DMA.
This is the case with some features already, like iPhone Mirroring to a Mac.
Show threadDr. Christopher KunzSep 11, 2025
@homebranch @mysk This. They're salty and punishing EU consumers for their governments standing up to US tech bros.
Show threadAdamSep 11, 2025

@christopherkunz @homebranch @mysk

Blackmailing the E.U. by withholding features to enrage they're fanboys and pit them against the E.U. in an attempt to force concessions is very much on brand for Apple

Show threadnightooSep 12, 2025
@adamsaidsomething
this so much. The number of Apple fanboys I've seen on Mastodon blaming the EU is depressing
Show threadNerdRelaxoSep 11, 2025
@homebranch And I totally understand them, that they don't want to do all the work and then give it to Google for free. If they were offering the feature in the EU then they could be forced to offer it for Android phones too. Time for an non-EU Apple Account. @mysk
Show threadSanderSep 11, 2025
@mysk
It could also mean FU EU for the crime of demanding 3rd party app stores etc. There are other FU EU missing features stemming from that. Paging @daringfireball
Show threadAttila KinaliSep 11, 2025
@mysk Fun fact: there is a cold war era law in Germany that puts quite severe punishment onto listening devices. More specifically devices with microphones that transmit received sound to some third party that do not look like devices that would do that (e.g. telephones). Samsung walked into this a couple of years ago with their smart TVs. Apple is probably trying to avoid walking into similar laws in Europe all together.
Show threadDr. Christopher KunzSep 11, 2025
@attilakinali Which law would that be?
Show threadAttila KinaliSep 11, 2025

@christopherkunz TDDDG §8 Abs 1

https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/ttdsg/__8.html

§ 8 TDDDG - Einzelnorm

Show threadDr. Christopher KunzSep 11, 2025
@attilakinali TDDDG was introduced in 2021. That's hardly "cold war era". If memory serves, that specific legislature was introduced to curb stuff like spycams in watches and microphones/recording devices in toys.
It's certainly not applicable to Airpods, which by their design are obviously known to the average German citizen to contain a microphone.
Show threadAttila KinaliSep 11, 2025
@christopherkunz Yes, that's true about TDDDG. But it replaced a similar older law. Which, unfortunately, I cannot find anymore. AFAIR, the text has been copied almost verbatim.
Show threadMax Maass Sep 11, 2025
@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.
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.

Show threadPeter 🔻Sep 11, 2025
@mysk Why would you want music have translated when played through your earphones anyway, that will no doubt sound stupid.
Show threadKhleedrilSep 11, 2025
@pvdrijst @mysk It is about translating speech on-the-fly.
Show threadMIfoodieSep 11, 2025
@mysk so then why do they want me to buy a new phone to access that feature?
Show threadyour auntifa liza 🇵🇷 🦛 🦦Sep 11, 2025

here’s the #1 reason NOBODY should use it, and why everybody should start questioning Apple’s choices with Tim Cook at the helm:

https://mastodon.social/@blogdiva/115186558285275860

@mysk

Show threadglenuxSep 11, 2025
As a (European) user, the only possible conclusion is therefore « Apple AirPods don't work »
Show threadNiels MoseleySep 11, 2025
@mysk I never buy apple phones; far too expensive.