đ Apple is now testing Live Rewind and Siri Recap on the Apple Watch
âď¸ The new watchOS 27.3 beta enables the features for the first time
đ¤ They use AI to record whatâs happening around you and summarize important information
â Youâll need a Series 12 or Ultra 4 to use them
đ The features should roll out to all users in the coming weeks
Apple has released the first beta of watchOS 27.3, and with it are two new features weâve been waiting to come to the latest Apple Watch since it launched: Live Rewind and Siri Recap. The beta brings Appleâs Audio Intelligence features to the Series 12 and Ultra 4 for the first time, turning your smartwatch into an AI companion device that can record whatâs going on around you.
The Siri Recap feature has generated the most buzz, since it implies that your Apple Watch is constantly recording all day long. Apple says that it records your conversations throughout the day and provides âhigh-level Apple Intelligence-generated summaries that you can use later to jog your memory,â similar to how dedicated AI pins and wearables operate. The company notes that it never attaches speaker labels, it doesnât store the audio it records, and you can turn it on or off at any time. You can also set it to only record when youâre at work, or another specific location or time.
Then thereâs Live Rewind, which seems a bit more digestible. When enabled, you can double-press the Digital Crown to read what was just said in the last 15 seconds. Appleâs demo for this involves reciting back the specials a waiter mightâve said at a restaurant, but you missed it because they were speaking too fast. You can then store the snippet of text in the Siri app if you want, but the audio is never stored.
Apple details how it handles ambient audio recording, including the privacy and security aspects, on its support page. In addition to Siri Recap and Live Rewind, watchOS 27.3 also includes Sound Recognition and Music Recognition support.
Apple is also testing the new Health app once again in the latest watchOS beta, which gives users deeper insights into their health with more proactive advice and suggestions. The new watchOS beta is joined by the first iOS 27.3 beta, which is rolling out today as well.
Itâs not clear when watchOS 27.3 will roll out to all users, but given that Apple typically tests updates like this for 3-4 weeks before a public rollout, expect a release date sometime in early December.
Max Buondonno is an editor at The Shortcut and co-host of The Shortcut Live. Heâs been reporting on the latest consumer technology since 2015, with his work featured on CNN Underscored, ZDNET, How-To Geek, XDA, TheStreet, and more. Follow him on X @LegendaryScoop and Instagram @LegendaryScoop.