How AI Could Make the Apple Watch an Indispensable Gadget

Key Takeaways

• The Apple Watch is a feature-packed device yet not indispensable. If watchOS is upgraded with AI features, it could become an essential gadget for everyone.
• I wish for features like accurate voice-to-text transcription, relevant search results using an LLM, and an upgraded Siri.
• However, several challenges exist, such as Apple’s aversion to cloud-based AI and the limited hardware capabilities of the Apple Watch.

The Apple Watch: Always Worn, But Never Always Needed

The Apple Watch clings to my body more than any other gadget – yet it isn’t something I can’t live without.

Don’t get me wrong; smartwatches have done a great deal in helping me build healthy habits. Quick replies and viewing notifications on my wrist have stopped me from picking up my phone, and needlessly spending hours on it. Not to forget, I love the turn-by-turn navigation directions on my wrist while walking, too.

But if you’re like me, conscious of the money spent on tech, you’d think twice about splurging another $399 on upgrading your smartwatch. Moreover, selling my existing smartwatch for a decent price of $249 is a juicy deal. It can help me upgrade a truly essential device, like my phone or PC.

Why I’m Okay Living Without the Apple Watch

I’ve gone days without charging my Apple Watch, feeling no actual loss. The only things I missed were step counts and workout tracking.

Even after a year, I still default to my iPhone for tasks my Apple Watch can do. When I do use the watch, it’s often an afterthought: “Oh right, I could use this instead.”

Maybe I’m just resistant to change, preferring the familiar larger screen of my phone. Moreover, I’m not always confident in the smartwatch’s capabilities. There’s a lingering fear that I might have to switch back to my phone mid-task due to the watch’s app limitations.

I’m not dismissing the idea of an Apple Watch – I’m all for using fun gadgets. This isn’t a rant about ‘How many screens do we need and where is humanity heading?’.

All I’m trying to say is that smartwatches are great – but how about making them indispensable? That’s when you look at the elephant in the room. (Maybe we need a bigger animal, as the elephant is an understatement) – and that’s artificial intelligence.

When There’s AI on the Apple Watch, Take All My Money

AI chatbots have spoilt me. I regularly use ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity on all of my devices, and my Apple Watch is the only device it isn’t available on.

Here are some features I’d love to have – a wishlist that starts with realistic ideas and ends with dreams even Santa might struggle to fulfill.

1. AI Voice to Text Transcription for Note Taking

I often want to note an interesting thought or an idea – but I’m too lazy to open the Notes app on my iPhone and type it out, and too full of confidence that I’ll remember it. Except a few hours later I’m digging my brain because I’ve forgotten what it was.

I just want to speak to my Apple Watch and dictate a note. I’d also be okay with quickly opening an app and letting AI transcribe my voice into a note. Perhaps it can sync with my iPhone, and I can then view the note on a larger screen later.

The idea isn’t novel; there’s an app called Voicenotes for the Apple Watch. It uses AI text-to-voice transcription to record notes. However, I wish Apple would add this feature to the default notes app soon.

🎤 Playing with @voicenotesai AW app pic.twitter.com/A7763lSLVO

— ˗ˏˋ vyshnav ˊˎ˗ (@vyshnav_xyz) June 25, 2024

2. Concise Search Results

I’m often engaged in conversations and arguments, trying to prove a point or seek answers to random questions that pop into my head. I wish I could ask my Apple Watch these questions and get concise answers from an LLM, not just search results from Siri. Ideally, responses would be limited to two sentences max, making them easy to read on the small screen.

Judging by how Siri works today on the Apple Watch – it deserves an upgrade.

3. An Upgraded Version of Siri

The Apple Watch is marketed as both a fitness tracker and an iPhone companion. It would excel at the latter if Siri were smarter and more capable.

I’m sorry I can’t help you with that – this is something I’ve heard Siri say more than providing useful responses. I’d love to use Siri to control various aspects of my iPhone. For example, quickly change settings, use a voice-based command to create a Focus Mode, read out notifications from specific apps, etc.

4. AI Health Analytics

As a fitness novice, I’m often unsure of what to do at the gym. An AI health analytics feature on my Apple Watch could be a game-changer. It could analyze my light jogging data and suggest gradual improvements to increase endurance, recommend optimal break times during workouts, and propose the best workout times based on my daily routines.

The latest watchOS 11 includes a feature along the same lines, called Training Load which helps you make better decisions regarding your workouts, and adjust their intensity. Further, you’ll also see detailed metrics regarding your performance in cardio workouts. I’m waiting for the watchOS 11 public release to test these features out, hoping they’ll genuinely improve my workouts.

But What Is Stopping AI on Smartwatches?

Apart from a few far-fetched and sci-fi-esque ideas, it’s fair to expect basic features like voice-to-text transcription for notes, and a better Siri on Apple Watch.

However, Apple doesn’t plan to include Apple Intelligence on the Watch – there’s only the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. So, what’s stopping it?

Apple’s AI Dilemma: Cloud Aversion vs. Apple Watch Limitations

The size of the Apple Watch limits the hardware it can pack. It is commendable that a small, 1.5-inch dial performs as many tasks as it can do today.

There are two ways an AI can function—it actively needs computing power, and it can rely on the Internet to process data or run the algorithms locally. The latter possibility can be ruled out for a few years at least—heck, even the non-pro iPhone 15 doesn’t have enough resources to run AI algorithms locally.

Yes, it is possible to rely on the internet for computation, but Apple is a privacy-first company and wouldn’t want to use a completely cloud-based AI on the Apple Watch.

As of now, even the current generation, non-pro iPhone 15 won’t receive Apple Intelligence features as the hardware is deemed incapable of handling them.

The Apple Watch Needs Better Batteries

Suppose Apple designs a secure cloud AI. But, does your Apple Watch have enough battery and power? It needs to constantly upload and download data for every AI task you do. The current batteries will certainly run out in no time – and it may take a few years to bundle a more powerful battery.

Moreover, Apple designed these smartwatches so that you don’t have to charge them multiple times in a day. You could argue that the Apple Watch Ultra can house a few AI features, but right now, Apple is focusing more on making it the watch with the best battery life – something you can depend on with all your life.

Is Apple Watch 10 (X) the One to Check Off My Wishlist?

We’ll have to wait for exponentially powerful hardware that fits in a watch or highly secure cloud-based AI systems. Even then, we’ll need better batteries. However, reaching this promised land isn’t impossible, we’ve seen wilder dreams come true recently.

Interestingly, rumors suggest the 10th-generation Apple Watch might get a revamp for its tenth anniversary. Will we see features indicating Apple’s move towards AI on your wrist? We’ll find out at the next Apple Event.