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Brain computer interface breakthroughs

PLUS: Apple unveils real-time language translation for AirPods

Author

Barsee
10 Sep

Together with

Howdy, it’s Barsee again.

Happy Wednesday, AI family, and welcome back to AI Valley.

Today’s climb through the Valley reveals:

  • Apple unveils real-time language translation for AirPods

  • Brain computer interface breakthroughs

  • Claude can now create and edit files for you in chat

  • Microsoft to use AI from Anthropic in shift from OpenAI

  • Plus trending AI tools, posts, and resources

Let’s dive into the Valley of AI…

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THROUGH THE VALLEY

At its iPhone 17 event, Apple introduced AirPods Pro 3 alongside a new Live Translation feature that works across several models. The system captures a speaker’s foreign-language speech and delivers real-time translation directly through AirPods. Users can reply in their own language, with translations displayed on their iPhone, or hold a two-way conversation if both parties wear supported AirPods.

Here's Apple's demo of live translation:

The feature isn’t limited to the Pro 3. Apple confirmed it will also roll out to AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation, which share the H2 chip needed for translation. Entry-level AirPods 4 lack ANC and won’t support it, while AirPods Max remain excluded with the older H1 chip. At launch, translations cover English, French, German, Portuguese, and Spanish, with Italian, Japanese, Korean, and simplified Chinese coming later this year.

Why does it matter?

Live Translation turns AirPods from listening devices into active communication tools. By expanding availability beyond the newest model, Apple positions the feature as a mainstream capability that could make multilingual conversations seamless for millions of users.

Boston startup Alterego has unveiled a headset that interprets unspoken communication by detecting subtle muscle movements in the jaw and throat. The system, called Silent Sense, converts these signals into commands, allowing interaction “at the speed of thought” without spoken words.

In demos, founder Arnav Kapur used the device for tasks like coding, texting, and direct conversations with other wearers. The team says it works in noisy environments, supports multilingual input, and can interpret both mouthed and motionless intent to speak. Originally developed at MIT in 2018, the project spun out as a company in 2025, though no release date has been set.

Why does it matter?

If Alterego can deliver on its claims, it points toward a new interface paradigm, where AI-enabled silent communication could reshape how people interact with technology and each other.

Anthropic has introduced new productivity features that let Claude generate and edit Excel sheets, Word documents, PowerPoint slides, and PDFs directly in chat.

The update gives Claude a private computing environment to run code and create files with charts, formulas, and analysis. Users can also convert formats, such as turning PDFs into slides or meeting notes into documents. The rollout starts with Max, Team, and Enterprise subscribers, with Pro users gaining access in the coming weeks.

Why does it matter?

Workplace AI is moving directly into the tools employees rely on most. Just as coding is shifting from writing functions to natural language prompts, tasks in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint are becoming conversational and reshaping how office work gets done.

According to new reports, Microsoft will license Anthropic’s models for Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint. The move ends Microsoft’s exclusive reliance on OpenAI for its productivity suite, pairing Claude with GPT models to expand feature sets.

Image Credit: The Information

The shift comes as Microsoft renegotiates its model access deal with OpenAI, which is pursuing its own infrastructure and new ventures, including a LinkedIn rival and AI chip production with Broadcom. Both companies are moving toward greater independence: Microsoft has launched its own in-house models, while OpenAI is exploring ways to reduce reliance on Azure.

TRENDING TOOLS

  • Poke - An AI assistant for messaging that integrates directly into iMessage and SMS

  • Cofounder - Automates tasks, remembers details, and takes actions for you

  • Recall - Chat with all the content you read, watch, listen to or take notes on

  • Gemini Canvas - Instantly edit any part of your web app by just clicking and describing the change you want

  • EbSynth - Transform entire videos by editing a single frame, turning any video into your creative canvas directly in the browser

THINK PIECES / BRAIN BOOST

THE VALLEY GEMS

What’s trending on social today:

THAT’S ALL FOR TODAY

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