On August 27, NetEase Youdao officially launched OpenPods, the Youdao AI Earbuds. As the world’s first Agent earbuds designed specifically for iPhone users, the product combines Apple MFi certification, a standalone smart earbud case, and AI Agent capabilities to integrate recording, transcription, translation, summarization, Q&A, and knowledge management into a single workflow. It is designed for high-frequency scenarios such as meetings and office work, cross-language communication, and content organization. OpenPods reportedly went on presale on August 27 and will officially launch on September 10, with black and white color options available.
This is not the first time the earbuds have entered the public spotlight. At the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC), the Youdao AI Earbuds received praise from China Central Television (CCTV) soon after their debut, drawing a steady stream of visitors to the booth. Many international attendees gave a thumbs-up after trying them on, while numerous professionals added them to their watchlists. From winning over visitors at the exhibition to officially going on sale, the anticipation surrounding the product reflects the market’s urgent demand for AI-enabled devices that can address real-world scenarios.
(Image: International visitors try the Youdao AI Earbuds at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and give them a thumbs-up.)
Deep hardware–application integration creates a closed loop for capturing sound in every scenario
For professionals, processing audio information is often a fragmented experience: important calls can disappear in an instant, and by the time they unlock their phones and open a recording app, key details may already have been missed. After the recording ends, they may spend hours replaying and manually organizing the content. In cross-language conversations, they must constantly switch between speaking, reading subtitles, and operating their phones. Voice recorders, transcription software, and translation apps each handle only one part of the process—but what users really need is not another standalone tool. They need a complete workflow that connects capture, understanding, organization, and retrieval.
OpenPods addresses this challenge by leveraging Apple MFi certification and system-level capabilities to support audio capture across online and offline scenarios. During online calls and audio or video conferences, users can press the physical button on the earbuds to start recording without unlocking their phones or triggering any notification sound. The feature also works when the phone is locked. For offline meetings, interviews, training sessions, and similar situations, the standalone smart earbud case is equipped with microphones, speakers, and storage. Placed on a table, it can record conversations among multiple people, and a double tap activates two-way Chinese–English translation through the built-in speaker, allowing it to function as a portable translator as well. With the earbuds, earbud case, and iPhone app working together, the final hurdle in audio capture has been removed.
Speak your native language and still converse freely: Simultaneous interpreting enters everyday life
The efficiency of cross-language communication is also being redefined by the Youdao AI Earbuds OpenPods.
During international calls, you can speak Chinese while the other person hears English, and vice versa—two-way translation requires neither the other party to install an app nor any additional equipment. Voice-cloning technology preserves the speaker’s own vocal characteristics in the translated output, improving efficiency without sacrificing authenticity. In face-to-face conversations, each person can wear one earbud and speak their native language while the conversation is translated in real time. When watching foreign-language livestreams, speeches, or courses without subtitles, near-real-time bilingual subtitles are generated simultaneously.
The earbuds currently support more than 20 languages, as well as dialects such as Cantonese and Shanghainese. Additional languages will be made available through future OTA updates. In the past, simultaneous interpreting was a specialized service provided through interpretation booths at international conferences. Today, it has been packed into a pair of earbuds weighing just 7 grams, giving ordinary users instant access to the capability.
From “writing it down” to “getting it done”: AI Agents enter real-world workflows
An even deeper transformation lies in bringing AI Agents out of the chat window and into real-world workflows.
After a recording ends, OpenPods automatically transcribes it and generates structured meeting notes, action items, and mind maps. It can also distinguish between speakers and correct specialized terminology. Users can continue asking questions through Ask AI, with answers accompanied by audio sources so that every statement can be traced back to the original recording. Commands such as summarizing, drafting emails, and translating can also be executed with a single tap. Recordings and transcripts are consolidated into a personalized knowledge base that continuously accumulates information about projects and clients. In this way, scattered audio information is transformed into searchable and reusable personal knowledge assets.
On the hardware side, OpenPods features an open, lightweight design, with each earbud weighing just 7 grams. Combined with intelligent noise-cancellation algorithms, it can capture voices clearly even in noisy environments. With a maximum combined battery life of 32 hours, it supports mobile work throughout the day.
“OpenPods is not simply about recording sound. It is about completing the entire process—from capturing, understanding, and organizing audio information to putting it to use,” said a relevant NetEase Youdao representative. “We hope AI Agents will not remain confined to chat windows. Instead, they should record, translate, summarize, and retrieve information whenever users need them, allowing sound to truly become a source of productivity.”