Dark event: AI, bigger screens, and headphones as hearing aids

After rumors, reports, and millions of viewers worldwide eagerly awaiting Apple’s new innovations, the company broadcasted live from Apple Park in Cupertino its annual event announcing major new products.

As usual, Apple CEO Tim Cook opened the event, announcing what to expect: Alongside innovations in iPhones, AirPods, and smartwatches, the company is expected to soon integrate artificial intelligence into smart devices, which will revolutionize our understanding of interacting with the now far more advanced cell phone. Artificial intelligence will not only provide answers to all questions but also create a kind of "neural connection" between you and the operation of various applications. More on that later.

Apple Watch

Apple Watch Cook reported that smartwatches have led to many lives saved by detecting atrial fibrillation and measuring blood oxygen levels and heart rate. Building on the technology of the smartwatch, Apple introduces new features: The new Apple Watch Series 10 will have a 30% larger screen than even the Ultra displays. The screen enlargement will make typing and content display easier. The OLED display will be brighter, improving readability even when the wrist is at an angle. As usual, Apple will add more displays to the operating system. The watch will be thinner: 9.7 mm, thinner than previous versions.

For the first time, music and podcasts can be played through the watch's built-in speaker, allowing users to leave their iPhone at home, shower with the watch, or take it into the sea and pool. Battery life has also been extended for each charge. The new processor in the watch will improve performance, reduce ambient noise, and allow clearer conversations through the watch.

The watch will also include new health features: It will be able to alert users to sleep apnea, a condition that causes fatigue, concentration difficulties, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and heart problems. 80% of people with sleep apnea are unaware of it. The new watch will detect breathing disturbances and alert users if there is a consistent pattern of disruption during sleep. Sleep apnea alerts are under review in clinical studies submitted for approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sleep apnea alerts will also be available in the previous Series 9 of smartwatches.

The Series 10 watch will now include a sensor that estimates body temperature and water temperature for swimmers. These metrics affect performance and health. The watch will also include depth and direction measurements for divers. Now, the watches also provide navigational information for sailors regarding direction and cruising speed.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2, the most advanced version of the smartwatches, includes additional features for athletes and sports enthusiasts: More precise GPS capabilities, extended battery life, measurement of physical activity loads, swimming motion counts in the pool or sea, offline location maps for running or hiking navigation.

AirPods

The sound quality of the new AirPods, which Apple claims are the best-selling in the world, has been significantly improved with noise reduction mechanisms and enhanced microphone performance. Users can now move their head left, right, up, and down to interact with "Siri" or answer phone calls. This function is especially useful when hands are occupied, such as when carrying groceries.

The charging has been updated to comply with the European Union's USB-C charging requirements. The AirPods will offer a "Transparency" mode that allows users to continue hearing environmental sounds while listening. They will also automatically lower the music volume when engaging in conversation with people around them.

The AirPods Pro 2, the most advanced version, will add to the features of AirPods 4 with additional health capabilities: The earbuds will protect against environmental noise that could harm hearing through noise cancellation. They will also allow for a 5-minute home hearing test: Using the iPhone and a built-in app, users can perform the test and receive alerts about potential hearing loss.

According to Apple, 80% of adults have not had a hearing test in the past five years. Apple plans to enable users to turn their AirPods into real hearing aids. After the hearing test, users will be able to use the AirPods as a hearing aid function that amplifies environmental sounds, distinguishes speech differences, and allows those who felt embarrassed to use a regular hearing aid to use AirPods instead.

iPhone 16

Apple is introducing several types of iPhones. The basic model will be the iPhone 16, featuring a 50% harder coating than previous generations, a new side camera button, a 17% increase in built-in memory, and reduced energy consumption to extend battery life.

Apple also previewed artificial intelligence that will allow "pseudo-human understanding" for tasks and communication between users and applications. Apple is trying to allay fears about artificial intelligence capabilities, assuring that data will not be stored on Apple servers and will be "securely" kept in users' personal clouds.

Apple showcased examples of everyday uses for artificial intelligence: Improving email phrasing according to your goals, creating new emojis, finding past photos that you couldn’t locate by typing a sentence that recalls the scene, and the highlight – creating personalized videos from your photo collections. Artificial intelligence will also summarize emails and provide important alerts throughout the day.

Artificial intelligence is also coming to Siri: Currently, the voice assistant is very limited in its capabilities and tasks. Many requests lead Siri to perform searches on the iPhone. With artificial intelligence, Siri will now be able to launch apps, delete information from the phone, type messages, assist with entertainment and cultural recommendations, and even correct requests during the command. The new AI-powered Siri will initially be available in English to users in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and the UK starting December, with more countries to follow. Israel is not on the initial list.

The new side camera button will not only allow for immediate photos but also identify images, signs, and objects using artificial intelligence. The camera button will support the new GPT chat for Apple users, providing extensive information without limits. The camera button will also allow users to choose between portrait or video modes. It will be able to differentiate between light and deep presses and control additional components like zoom and depth of field. Improvements have also been made to camera resolutions, enabling optimization of image quality up to 24 megapixels.

According to forecasts, which were accurate this time, Apple is adding satellite communication, initially in the US and Canada, allowing for SMS messages and calls in case of cellular failure. The iPhone will also include the option to send images, videos, and location to emergency services (initially in the US to 911).

Apple is also increasing screen sizes not only in smartwatches: The Pro Max model will grow to 6.9 inches, nearly the size of the Mini iPad, and slightly larger than the current Pro Max 15, which stands at 6.7 inches. The iPhone Pro will grow to 6.3 inches, compared to 6.1 inches in the 15 model.