Apple has been granted a patent that enables silent gesture authentication on its AirPods Max and other wearable devices. The technology uses bioauthentication circuits to differentiate between voice commands and silent gestures, reducing the risk of accidental or unauthorized command entry.
According to the patent, users can authenticate their voice commands by speaking into the microphone while wearing AirPods Max. The device analyzes skin deformations on the user’s scalp or head, caused by vibrations from speech, and compares this data with audio input from the microphone.
There are three types of authentication in the new patent:
1. Verification through both auditory and bio-sensing inputs, ensuring that only the user’s voice is recognized.
2. Acceptance of silent gestures when concurrent sound levels are low, making it less likely for others to be able to intercept commands.
3. Authentication based on a stored user voice pattern.
This technology aims to enhance security and reduce errors in wearable devices like AirPods Max, by combining audio input with bio-sensing data.
Source: https://www.patentlyapple.com/2025/06/apple-has-won-an-airpods-related-patent-for-a-silent-gesture-sensor-with-a-new-bioauthentication-circuit.html