The new iOS 17 beta adds a new feature to the AirPods Pro 2: Conversation Awareness. This feature allows the AirPods Pro 2 to automatically adjust volume and noise-cancelling modes to fit the user’s communication situation.
When the user is talking to someone else, the Conversation Awareness feature lowers the AirPods Pro 2’s volume and turns on Transparent Mode, allowing the user to hear the sounds around them.
In the latest iOS 17 Beta 7, when users turn on Conversation Awareness for the first time, Siri explains the feature to the user and informs the AirPods Pro 2 that the volume has been lowered.
Conversation Awareness is part of what Apple calls Adaptive Audio, which consists of three features, namely:
Adaptive Noise Reduction Control: adjusts the level of noise reduction based on ambient noise levels
Personalized Volume: adjusts volume when switching between noisy and quiet environments
Conversation Awareness: turn down the volume and enable transparency mode when speakingAll three of these features are activated automatically and are designed to provide users with a more comfortable and convenient listening experience. However, if users are not aware of these features, they may get confused or mistakenly think that the AirPods Pro 2 is malfunctioning. As a result, Apple is having Siri introduce users to the conversation-aware features in iOS 17 Beta 7 and remind them each time it launches.
For now, the Adaptive Audio feature is only available for the AirPods Pro 2.
