AirPods with camera will be Apple’s next product after iPad Air and iPhone 16e
Apple has been on an impressive launch streak over the past few weeks, rolling out new products from Macs and iPads to the iPhone 16e. With this series of releases complete, the company is now shifting its focus to future innovations, notably AirPods integrated with cameras. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is actively developing a version of AirPods that will feature built-in cameras. Although this advanced technology is not expected to debut in the upcoming AirPods Pro 3, slated for release later this year, it is reportedly in the pipeline for future iterations. These camera-equipped AirPods are designed to enhance the device’s capability to perceive and interact with the surrounding environment.
With the launch of the iPhone 16 lineup, Apple introduced a new feature called Camera Control, which enables users to capture photos and adjust settings conveniently. It also unlocked a feature termed Visual Intelligence, enhancing the user’s interaction with their device. Gurman reports that Apple plans to integrate similar technology into future AirPods, with the goal of strengthening its competitive edge in the AI landscape. These advanced AirPods would utilize external cameras and AI technology to analyze the user’s surroundings, offering functionalities similar to smart glasses but without the need for eyewear.
However, Apple is not expected to unveil this innovation until at least 2027, potentially alongside the release of the AirPods Pro 4. The tech giant is also exploring the possibility of launching smart glasses, akin to Meta’s Ray-Bans, as part of its broader strategy to leverage the Vision Pro’s advanced visual intelligence. This technology is capable of scanning and interpreting environments, providing users with relevant information based on their surroundings.
While the idea of AirPods with integrated cameras sounds futuristic, Apple’s progress in artificial intelligence seems to be trailing. Apple Intelligence, introduced at WWDC 2024, has yet to see significant updates. The much-anticipated conversational Siri feature may not arrive until the release of iOS 20. Gurman’s latest report suggests that Apple’s upcoming iOS 19 update will focus on expanding existing Apple Intelligence features rather than introducing groundbreaking new advancements. Although updates to Siri are expected, major AI developments are unlikely in this cycle. Instead, the emphasis will be on integrating current capabilities more extensively across Apple’s ecosystem.
Gurman indicates that the forthcoming WWDC may not showcase revolutionary AI features. Rather, Apple is expected to present plans for extending its existing AI functionalities to more apps. However, the specifics of this expansion remain unclear, especially considering the current limitations of Apple’s non-Siri AI capabilities. Overall, iOS 19 appears poised to be a year of refinement and consolidation in AI, rather than a period of significant breakthroughs. Although Apple is preparing to introduce the new ‘LLM Siri’ backend with iOS 19.4, the launch of the conversational assistant has been postponed. Additionally, the new Siri features initially planned for iOS 18.4 have also been delayed, with an expected release sometime next year, likely aligning with the rollout of iOS 19.
