China's AI features are here! Apple (AAPL.US) releases iOS 27.3 beta: introduces the Watch AI Listening Tool and a brand new Health App

According to Golden Ten Data, Apple (AAPL.US) on Tuesday released the first developer beta of iOS 27.3 and watchOS 27.3, rolling out a range of new features—including frequently used artificial intelligence tools—to broad testing. Among these are an AI platform tailored for China as well as a brand-new Health App.

The controversial Audio Intelligence feature can be used with the company’s Series 12 and Ultra 4 smartwatches, having debuted at the September product launch just over a month ago. Its concept leverages AI and the device’s microphone to track and analyze nearby conversations. The new audio tools include Siri Recap, which converts key topics from conversations into bullet points, similar to applications like Granola and Otter. The company has also introduced Live Rewind, which displays a text transcript of the previous 15 seconds of conversation. Apple’s usage example: playing back a portion of an exchange with a restaurant server, eliminating the need for users to ask for a repeat.

These features currently support only English and remain in the testing phase. Even so, the technology could still pose challenges to wiretapping laws in some states, especially where all parties must consent to recording. It may also heighten broader privacy concerns: Apple is joining the ranks of tech companies like Meta Platforms (META.US) in launching AI devices that are increasingly embedded in daily life—from activity tracking to recording video and conversations.

The beta version is first available to developers; Apple typically also releases a public beta for consumers. The official rollout is scheduled for December. Another major aspect of this update is support for bringing certain Apple Intelligence features to China—a result of years of negotiations between the iPhone maker and Chinese authorities. After integrating content filters supported by Alibaba Group (BABA.US), these features received approval. Apple has also released the first betas of macOS 27.3, tvOS 27.3, visionOS 27.3, and iPadOS 27.3.

The China-localized Apple Intelligence features are limited to enhancements originally introduced in late 2024 and early 2025 in the US and other regions, such as Notification Summary, Genmoji custom emoji generator, and writing tools. They do not include more advanced capabilities like enhanced photo editing, improved image generation, or Siri AI—the upgraded voice assistant relies on Alphabet's (GOOGL.US) model, which is not accessible in China.

Another new feature of iOS 27.3 is the redesigned Health App, which now includes an "Insights" tab to monitor health and fitness metrics such as heart rate, vital signs, and step count. The "Longevity" tab provides more detailed information about users’ heart, hearing, activity, metabolism, and mental health. The new "Health Age" feature estimates users’ age based on their health status. Many of these features have already appeared on competing platforms such as Whoop and Oura.

When Apple announced these AI audio features in September, it emphasized various privacy safeguards, including an audible alert when users request a Live Rewind playback. Audio processing is performed on the device rather than transmitted over the internet, and Apple has assured that underlying audio is not actually recorded or stored. Furthermore, the company states that these tools will not attribute comments to specific, named individuals, and summaries may omit potentially sensitive information such as financial details, personal identifiers, and authentication data.