If you think AirPods have reached their peak and there’s little room for improvement, a recent leak from Mark Gurman might change your mind. According to the analyst, Apple is developing a new generation of headphones designed to interact with the environment, gather context from the world around you, and use AI alongside a Visual Intelligence system to create a more advanced and appealing product.
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As the title suggests, this innovation would involve adding cameras to AirPods. While details like the number, size, or placement of these cameras remain unknown, their purpose is clear. Surprisingly, their goal isn’t just to equip your headphones with a camera but to enhance their functionality in new ways.
Apple is reportedly exploring ways to make the most of its massive investment in Vision Pro and AI-powered environmental awareness. Their solution? Integrating cameras into AirPods to analyze surroundings and provide users with valuable contextual information about the space they are in.
Everything would revolve around Visual Intelligence, a tool introduced with the iPhone 16 that analyzes surroundings to provide AI-powered insights, details, or answers about specific objects or actions. With AirPods equipped with cameras, this feature could be used hands-free—no need to take out your phone. A simple voice command to Siri would be enough to activate it directly through the headphones.
One exciting possibility is asking Visual Intelligence about something happening around you. For example, if you see a dog and don’t recognize its breed, you could simply ask, and ChatGPT would provide the answer. Currently, this requires taking out your phone, activating the function, and pointing the camera. But with future AirPods, you could get the information instantly—just by asking.
AirPods With Cameras Won’t Be Here Anytime Soon
Apple seems to have nailed the concept—integrating Visual Intelligence into a device you already carry with you, without the need for an extra gadget, is a game-changer. This feature is similar to what some augmented reality glasses, like the Ray-Ban Meta, offer. However, unlike smart glasses, AirPods are something most people use daily, making this innovation even more practical.
Unfortunately, as exciting as AirPods with cameras sound, they won’t be arriving anytime soon. According to Mark Gurman, Apple is not expected to release them until 2027. In fact, he predicts that this technology could debut in the AirPods Pro 4.