OnePlus Buds could get an AI call summarization feature, putting them ahead of the iPhone and AirPods
As manufacturers cram AI into everything, we’re starting to see more devices offering features like automatic text and audio summaries. iOS 18, for example, will bring AI-powered call transcription and summaries to the iPhone 16 later this year, and some of the best Android phones will soon include similar summarization features. And now, a new leak suggests that the feature could come to OnePlus’s earbuds, too, given that it’s already been added as a feature to its phones in China (but not elsewhere).
The news comes via Android Authoritywhose investigation into the code of the OnePlus Wireless Earbuds app has uncovered evidence that strongly suggests that AI call summaries are coming to the anticipated upcoming OnePlus Buds Pro 3 model, and possibly more OnePlus models as well. The feature will let you start or stop a call summary by triple-tapping the stem of your earbuds.
When will you get the new AI features of the OnePlus Buds?
That’s a very good question, because OnePlus’ existing AI calling assistant, which is actually powered by the earbuds rather than having the technology built into the earbuds themselves, hasn’t yet launched outside of China.
As for the OnePlus Buds Pro 3, those haven’t launched yet either: currently, the company’s most recent earbuds are the OnePlus Buds 3. A successor to the OnePlus Buds Pro 2 is widely expected but hasn’t been confirmed yet, so we have no indication when the earbud-powered AI feature will be available. We also don’t know which other OnePlus Buds, if any, will be able to pull up the summaries.
While this feature is exclusive to OnePlus phones, it’s not the only option on Android: Google is reportedly bringing the very similar Call Notes to its Pixel 9 phones in the next two weeks, and Samsung has its own AI transcription features in Samsung Notes for Galaxy phones. The latter option isn’t quite as seamless as Call Notes – Samsung’s transcriptions require you to provide a recording rather than make one yourself – but it being brought to live conversations is likely only a matter of time.
We don’t know if Apple’s version of this tech will be able to be enabled through AirPods, but since Apple Intelligence apparently isn’t available until after the launch of iOS 18, OnePlus could be the first to offer the convenience of earbud-activated AI note-taking during calls.
