Apple can give new airpods a camera that can feed AI data
Apple is allegedly working on giving its next-genepods underlying infrared cameras to improve its AI-operated features.
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What are you expecting from new Apple devices in the coming years? Foldable iPhone, OLED MacBook, or perhaps a camera in the watch? But what if we told you that future airpods can also have small cameras to allow AI to scan more data for more personal hearing experience? Well, according to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Apple is working on connecting infrared cameras to Airpods, which can help the device feed AI more data.
In his latest report, Mark Gurman of Bloomberg revealed that Apple is happening with the concept of airpods, characterizing the AI system characterized by the external-interacted cameras designed to feed real-time data. However, these cameras will not be traditional cameras, but will be the same for people who power the face ID technology of Infrared Sensor – iPhone, tells a report of macromors. “Rockwell experience with hardware can also help the company embed more deeply in its future equipment. Already, the company is searching for the idea of AIROPods with external-related cameras that can feed the data to AI,” Gurman said.
Speculation around giving cameras to airpods is not completely new. Back in June 2024, Apple Supply Chain Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that airpods with infrared cameras could begin mass production by 2026. Kuo suggested that with these infrared sensors, Apple aims to increase spatial audio experiences, especially when connected with Apple’s Vision Pro headset. For example, if a user rotates his head while watching a video, the audio may shift to the sound from the direction that they are facing, creating a more comfortable and immersive experience.
Not only this, these infrared cameras are also indicating the possibility of “in-air gesture control”, enabling users to manage playback, respond to answer calls or navigate interfaces with simple hand movements to navigate the answer calls or to navigate. Whereas the timeline for mass production is reportedly around 2026 or 2027 and more details are rare.
But airpods are not only a rumor to get a camera upgrade. Gurman also revealed information about Apple Watch, stating that the company is working on several models with built-in cameras for release by 2027. In his power on the newsletter, he made a detailed plan with an embedded camera in the screen area for future Apple Watch Series Models, while a next generation Apple Watch Ultra could have a camera near the digital crown on the right side. However, do not expect to make facetime calls from your wrist – Gujarman says these cameras are to power visual intelligence, a feature that started on iPhone 16 last year and recently expanded to the iPhone 15 Pro model with iPhone 18.4.
In particular, Visual Intelligence- introduced by Apple in 2024- allows users to indicate their devices in objects or locations- such as a restaurant or a milestone- and use immediate relevant information, such as opening hours or rating. If this feature comes in the Apple Watch, it may mean that your wrist becomes a useful tool for the convenience on-a-go to achieve real-time insights about your surroundings.
