Apple’s latest iOS 17 software update is packed with cool features designed to make our lives easier. But there’s one feature in particular that caught my attention — Live Voicemail. This ingenious feature not only saves time but also offers a glimpse into the future of smartphone communication.
What is Live Voicemail in iOS 17?
Live Voicemail is a simple yet powerful feature that allows your iPhone to create real-time transcriptions of voicemail messages as they’re being recorded. With the help of the Neural Engine, your iPhone transcribes the message, enabling you to decide whether to pick up the call or let it go to voicemail.
Why it’s a game-changer
Live Voicemail eliminates the need to listen to voicemails later, saving you precious time and effort. Instead of having to send a quick text to the caller while your phone is ringing, you can now assess the urgency of the call just by glancing at the transcription. This feature is especially useful for busy individuals who receive a lot of calls throughout the day.
A familiar concept with a fresh twist
While Live Voicemail might seem like a groundbreaking feature, it’s worth noting that Android has had a similar feature for a couple of years. Google’s Pixel Call Screen, starting with the Google Pixel 6, takes it a step further by having Google Assistant answer the call and ask questions on your behalf. However, Apple’s approach of simply transcribing the call in real-time feels less disruptive and more user-friendly.
On-Device Transcription and Privacy
How it works
One of the key aspects of the feature is the on-device transcription. This means that Apple’s Neural Engine handles the transcription process directly on your iPhone, without relying on external servers or cloud services. As a result, your transcriptions remain private and secure.
Protection against spam calls
Another advantage of Live Voicemail is that it can recognize spam calls and decline them automatically. This way, you can focus on important calls without being bothered by unwanted interruptions. Recognize that phone carriers flagging calls as spam will automatically reject them instead of displaying them as Live Voicemail. Furthermore, Apple’s Neural Engine handles on-device processing of Live Voicemail transcriptions, ensuring their confidentiality.
This is just one promising iOS 17 feature I can’t wait to try out. Be sure to check out our article on everything Apple announced in WWDC 2023, including the Vision Pro headset, the Journal app, Contact Posters and more.
