I tried Apple’s 2 big AI features announced at the iPhone 17 event – and both are game changers

Whereas we did not hear a lot about Siri or Apple Intelligence in the course of the 2025 Apple Occasion that launched new iPhones, AirPods, and Apple Watches, there have been two big AI options introduced which have largely slipped beneath the radar. That is largely as a result of they have been offered as nice new options and did not use overhyped AI advertising language.

Nonetheless, I obtained to demo each options at Apple Park on Tuesday and my first impression was that each of them are almost absolutely baked and able to begin bettering every day life — and people are my favourite sorts of options to speak about.

Additionally: 5 new AI-powered features that flew under the radar at Apple’s launch event

Here is what they’re:

1. A selfie digicam that routinely frames one of the best shot

Apple has carried out a brand new sort of front-facing digicam. This makes use of a sq. sensor and will increase the decision of the sensor from 12 megapixels on earlier fashions to 24MP. Nonetheless, as a result of the sensor is sq., it really outputs 18MP photos. The actual trick is that it may output in both vertical or horizontal codecs.

In truth, you do not even have to show the cellphone to change between vertical and horizontal mode any extra. Now you can merely preserve the cellphone in a single hand and within the vertical or horizontal place you like, you’ll be able to faucet the rotate button and it’ll flip from vertical to horizontal and vice versa. And since it has an ultrawide sensor with double the megapixels, it may take equally crisp photographs in both orientation. 

Now, this is the place the AI is available in. You possibly can set the front-facing digicam to Auto Zoom and Auto Rotate. Then, it should routinely discover faces in your shot and it’ll widen or tighten the shot and resolve whether or not a vertical or horizontal orientation will work finest to suit everybody within the image. Apple calls this its “Middle Stage” function, which is similar time period it makes use of for centering you in the course of the display screen for a video name on the iPad and the Mac.

Additionally: Every iPhone 17 model compared

The function technically makes use of machine studying, nevertheless it’s nonetheless truthful to name this an AI function. The Middle Stage branding is a bit of bit complicated although, as a result of the selfie digicam on iPhone 17 is used for photographs whereas the function on iPad and Mac is for video calls. The selfie digicam function can also be geared toward photographs with a number of folks, whereas the iPad/Mac function is primarily used with simply you within the body. 

Nonetheless, after making an attempt it on varied demo iPhones at Apple Park after the keynote on Tuesday, it is easy to name this the neatest and finest selfie digicam I’ve seen. I’ve little question that different cellphone makers will begin copying this function in 2026. And one of the best half is that Apple did not simply restrict it to this yr’s high-end iPhone 17 Professional and Professional Max, however put it on the usual iPhone 17 and the iPhone Air as properly. That is nice information for shoppers, who took 500 billion selfies on iPhones final yr in keeping with Apple. 

2. Dwell Translation in AirPods Professional 3

I’ve stated this many occasions earlier than, however language translation is without doubt one of the finest and most correct makes use of for Giant Language Fashions. In truth, it is among the finest issues you are able to do with generative AI. 

It has enabled corporations like Apple that lag far behind Google and others in its language translation app to take large strides ahead in implementing language translation options into key merchandise. Whereas Google Translate helps 249 completely different languages, Apple’s Translate app helps 20. Google Translate has been round since 2006 whereas Apple’s Translate app launched in 2020. 

Additionally: AirPods Pro 3 vs. AirPods Pro 2: Here’s who should upgrade

Nonetheless, whereas Google has been doing demos for years displaying real-time translation in its telephones and earbuds, not one of the options have ever actually labored very properly in the true world. Google once more made a big deal about real-time translation during its Pixel 10 launch event in August, however even in the course of the onstage demo the feature hiccuped a bit. 

Enter Apple. Alongside the AirPods Professional 3, it launched its personal dwell translation function. And whereas the variety of languages is not as broad, the implementation is rather a lot smoother and extra consumer pleasant. I obtained an in-person demo of this with a gaggle of different journalists at Apple Park on Tuesday after the keynote.

A Spanish speaker got here into the room and began talking whereas we had AirPods Professional 3 in our ears and an iPhone 17 Professional in our palms with the Dwell Translation function turned on. The AirPods Professional 3 instantly went into ANC mode and began translating the phrases spoken in Spanish into English in order that we may look into the individual’s face in the course of the dialog whereas listening to their phrases in our personal language with out the distraction of listening to the phrases in each languages. And I do know sufficient Spanish to know that the interpretation was fairly correct — with no hiccups on this case. 

It was just one transient demo nevertheless it traded the tips of Google’s Pixel 10 demo (making an attempt to place the phrases and intonation into an AI-cloned voice of the speaker) for extra sensible usability. Apple’s model is a beta function that can be restricted to English, Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese to start out. 

And to be clear, the iPhone does many of the processing work whereas the AirPods make the expertise higher by routinely invoking noise cancellation. However due to that, the feature isn’t just limited to AirPods Pro 3. It’s going to additionally work with AirPods Professional 2 and AirPods 4, so long as they’re linked to a phone that can run Apple Intelligence (iPhone 15 Professional or newer). That is one other win for shoppers.

Since I am planning to check each the Pixel 10 Professional XL with Pixel Buds Professional 2 in addition to the iPhone 17 Professional Max with AirPods Professional 3, I will put their new translation options head-to-head to see how properly they carry out. Each week, I am in touch with pals and group members who communicate a number of of the supported languages, so I will have ample alternatives to place it to work in the true world after which share what I study.