As reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is in the process of developing a version of AirPods that would feature built-in cameras. While this technology is not expected to appear in the upcoming AirPods Pro 3, set to launch this year, it is indeed part of Apple’s future plans. The aim is for AirPods to gain a better understanding of your surroundings, but what’s behind this initiative?
Integration of Visual Intelligence
With the latest iPhone 16 series, Apple has rolled out Camera Control. This new feature not only streamlines photo-taking and camera settings adjustments but also introduces Visual Intelligence.
Visual Intelligence serves as an invaluable tool for users, allowing them to gain insights about their environment and take actions based on what they perceive. For instance, it could help you save an event flyer directly to your calendar or leverage ChatGPT or Google for information on unfamiliar topics.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests that Apple aims to incorporate similar functionalities into AirPods, primarily to strengthen its foothold in the rapidly evolving AI landscape:
Apple is working on a new variant of the AirPods Pro featuring external cameras and AI capabilities to interpret the surroundings, effectively paving a path toward smart glasses—but without the physical eyewear.
Imagine using this AirPods integration to inquire about your environment using Siri, without the need to reach for your iPhone.
Enhanced Spatial Audio
Analyst Ming Chi Kuo has also proposed that these cameras could facilitate integration with other Apple products, specifically enhancing spatial awareness during audio playback with the Apple Vision Pro:
The new AirPods are anticipated to work seamlessly with the Vision Pro and future Apple headsets to enrich the spatial audio experience and reinforce the spatial computing ecosystem. For example, when viewing a video in Vision Pro while wearing the new AirPods, the audio could focus on the direction the user is looking, thereby amplifying the spatial audio experience.
This idea may seem unconventional, but given Kuo’s track record, it merits consideration. He also speculated that these cameras might enable “in-air gesture control” for AirPods.
Projected Release Date
According to Bloomberg, Apple is not expected to launch this technology until at least 2027, likely alongside the AirPods Pro 4:
By 2027, the team is contemplating the release of smart glasses comparable to the Meta Ray-Bans and AirPods equipped with cameras. The goal is to make use of the significant investments put into the Vision Pro’s visual intelligence technology, enabling it to scan users’ environments and deliver valuable information.
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