Apple has announced new artificial intelligence capabilities for its watches that can transcribe recent speech and summarize nearby conversations. While the company says it will not store raw audio files, the functionality raises concerns about privacy and consent.

The features prompt broader questions about how people behave when they suspect they are being recorded at all times. Privacy advocates worry that even without audio being permanently saved, the ability of devices to listen and process speech normalizes constant surveillance and may affect how freely people speak around their devices.