Apple pilots Live Notes AI tool at Genius Bar stores

Apple is testing an artificial‑intelligence feature called “Live Notes” in a limited number of its Genius Bar locations. The system records the conversation between a technician and a customer, creates a transcript and a concise summary, and adds them to the repair‑session record on the employee’s iPad. Participation is opt‑in: both the employee and the customer must give explicit consent before recording begins, and the raw audio is not retained. Apple says managers cannot view the transcripts and that staff can edit the text before it is saved.

Employees, however, have expressed concerns that the recorded content could later be used for performance reviews or coaching, raising privacy and surveillance worries. Apple has not indicated whether the tool will remain optional or be rolled out more widely after the pilot phase.

The rollout is part of Apple’s broader push to integrate AI into its retail operations, but staff anxiety highlights the tension between productivity gains and employee monitoring.