5 emerging technologies that may soon become part of everyday life

Some are already on your phone; others are tied up in regulatory hell.

By Luke James Nov. 15, 2026 12:00 pm EST Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images Add Engadget on Google: Google Discover

Imagine sitting in a Parisian bistro while the waiter reads out the day's specials in French. If you've got a recent pair of AirPods in, you'll hear his words in English a moment later, thanks to the Live Translation feature Apple added in September 2025. More than 20 years ago, MIT Technology Review said this was just around the corner.