It’s that people working boring or unpleasant jobs can have an audio environment of their choice. Music, podcasts, audiobooks.
This wasn’t possible when it required a huge device, but AirPods are so unobtrusive and socially acceptable that workers can wear them without it attracting undue attention.
Pranksters on YouTube use it for the same reason; people are used to seeing it and don’t associate it with receiving voice instructions.
One significant thing here: this is a piece of technology which no one in the entire world, at any level of wealth, had a couple decades ago. But today a person in a relatively low-ranked job carrying orders out at Walmart... casually has this technology for fun.
This does not measure as a productivity improvement, but it’s pretty great.
Most non-positional goods are like this. You getting Airpods doesn't make mine any worse. Statistically, you getting Airpods makes mine better, because it increases the chances of there being more content I like.
