I tried Apple’s Siri Recaps. They’re surprisingly useful — and a little unsettling

Apple recently introduced a set of Audio Intelligence features, including Siri Recaps, into testing with developer beta versions of iOS 27.3 and watchOS 27.3. These features, designed for Apple Watch Series 12 users, aim to detect significant sounds, identify songs, catch up on conversations, and take notes. After using Siri Recaps for a day, I can appreciate the convenience and value it brings, despite potential privacy concerns.

Features like sound and song detection do not pose privacy issues, as they are intended to assist the deaf and hard-of-hearing community and provide song identification services. However, Live Rewind and Siri Recaps have raised concerns due to their audio recording and summarization capabilities. These features process and transcribe conversations around the Apple Watch's owner, saving important notes without identifying speakers, storing raw audio files, or redacting sensitive information. Nevertheless, some feel uneasy about the constant listening aspect of these AI features.

While I find Live Rewind less useful, Siri Recaps has proven to be a valuable tool for capturing essential details from real-life situations. During a recent car repair appointment and rental pickup, Siri Recaps successfully captured key information like the deductible, repair timeframe, and initial gas levels. However, it also mixed this information with unrelated topics discussed later in the day, leading to some unwanted notes.

I am considering turning off Siri Recaps at home to prevent it from recording family dinner conversations and other non-essential details.

To improve the user experience, I suggest Apple adds options to automatically export saved Siri Recaps to the Notes app and separate notes with dedicated headings. These improvements would allow users to better manage and organize the captured information, tailoring it to their individual needs and preferences. Despite my initial reservations about the constant listening, Siri Recaps has demonstrated its potential as an invaluable tool for daily life.