AirPods Pro With AI Cameras Reach 'Advanced' Testing Stage

[MacRumors]

Apple's upcoming camera-equipped AirPods Pro are nearing completion and have reached an "advanced" testing stage, reports Bloomberg. The design is almost finalized, as is the feature set, and early mass production could begin soon.

The AirPods Pro will have built-in cameras that will feed visual information about the wearer's surroundings to Siri. While there will be a longer stem for the camera in each AirPod, the device will otherwise look similar to the AirPods Pro 3.

The cameras in the AirPods will not be able to take photos or videos, and will solely be used for AI purposes. A small LED light will illuminate when the AirPods are sending visual information to Siri.

Apple wants users to be able to look at an item and ask Siri questions about it, working similarly to image uploads in chatbot apps. The cameras could also offer reminders based on visual information, and give more detailed turn-by-turn directions by viewing what's around the wearer.

The Camera app in iOS 27 is also set to get a Siri mode that incorporates Visual Intelligence, letting users do things like scan nutrition labels on food packaging for calorie tracking.

Apple wanted to start selling the camera-equipped AirPods Pro in the first half of 2026, but the product's launch has been held back because the smarter, AI version of Siri is not yet ready to be released. The new Siri is set to be introduced in September in iOS 27, macOS 27, and iPadOS 27, so we could see the AirPods Pro launch sometime in that same timeframe.

Apple could also opt to wait to launch the AirPods if it is not satisfied with the quality of the Visual Intelligence features planned for Siri.

It is not yet clear how the new AirPods will fit into Apple's lineup. Rumors suggest Apple does not intend to brand them as the "AirPods Pro 4," and they could instead be referred to as the AirPods Ultra, or perhaps AirPods Pro 3 With Cameras.

Article Link: AirPods Pro With AI Cameras Reach 'Advanced' Testing Stage

 

[kotaKat]

Uh-huh. I'm sure.

 

[arggg14]

Sounds like a bunch of malarkey.

 

[blaizefm]

I for one am looking forward to watching the sales pitch for this.

 

[dannyyankou]

This is actually an appealing concept to me. Ray-Ban Metas are interesting, but I don’t like the open speaker design. These would solve that problem.

I’m not interested in taking photos or videos with them.

 

[zorinlynx]

How about no? Do people WANT to be spied on? Does anyone care about privacy anymore?

 

[Jarman74]

Apple wanted to start selling the camera-equipped AirPods Pro in the first half of 2026, but the product's launch has been held back because the smarter, AI version of Siri is not yet ready to be released.

The number of devices allegedly relying on the new Siri and currently sitting in the icebox is getting significant — and a bit worrying. We’re reaching the point where anything short of a genuinely groundbreaking AI assistant could spell trouble for many of them, much like what happened to the HomePod: a great product released too early for its own good.

 

[madmin]

now they can stick their ai where the sun don't shine
but not in my waxing ear

 

[falainber]

Who decided that sticking the cameras in your ears was a good idea?

 

[AlexESP]

I know the mainstream opinion will be to go against this, but I think it can be very useful.

No one who doesn’t wear glasses wants to do it, but using your phone to analyse your surroundings implies a lot of friction.

And Apple is good with the two critical points here: a) integration between hardware and software b) privacy.

 

[Starfia]

Yes. Perhaps "AirPods Pro 3 With Cameras".

(Nods normally)

 

[coolfactor]

Name is obvious — AiPods

How about iPods? "Intelligence Pods".

 

[jz0309]

The cameras in the AirPods will not be able to take photos or videos, and will solely be used for AI purposes.

That statement right there - 100% no-buy for me.
My APP2 are going strong for me ...

 

[turbineseaplane]

Not a product for me, but I'll be curious to see how it goes.

 

[AlexESP]

Who decided that sticking the cameras in your ears was a good idea?

Being able to ask “what’s that building I have in front of me” sounds like a good idea to me. Obviously it has many (technical, privacy, etc.) challenges, but let’s not act like this is a nonsense idea.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Apple wanted to start selling the camera-equipped AirPods Pro in the first half of 2026, but the product's launch has been held back because the smarter, AI version of Siri is not yet ready to be released. The new Siri is set to be introduced in September in iOS 27, macOS 27, and iPadOS 27, so we could see the AirPods Pro launch sometime in that same timeframe.

Apple could also opt to wait to launch the AirPods if it is not satisfied with the quality of the Visual Intelligence features planned for Siri.

Hmm ...

This sure sounds like they should wait and be super duper pinky swear certain about "new" Siri.

 

[sos47]

„Say Hello to Spy“…“and you will love it“

 

[turbineseaplane]

Being able to ask “what’s that building I have in front of me” sounds like a good idea to me. Obviously has many (technical, privacy, etc.) challenges, but let’s not act like this is a nonsense idea.

Warp drive sounds good too, except for the pesky technical challenges.

 

[SilmarilFinder]

Sounds like best case another Vision Pro, worst case another Apple Car.

Not sure who this is really for either. Feels like it’s aimed at people who want vision like a horse, rather than something that actually improves everyday use.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Me: "Hey Siri, what kind of animal is that?"

Siri: "I don't see any mammal hats"

 

[ELman]

I'll wait for my class action lawsuit check from my iPhone 16 before purchasing another Apple AI device.

 

[CarAnalogy]

All I can think reading this is that they are building the Cart of the AirPods before the Horse of Siri.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Me: "Hey Siri, what kind of animal is that?"

Siri: "I don't see any mammal hats"

It's gonna be like a sudden rise in mental illness with people screaming obscenities in the streets seemingly at no one.

 

[turbineseaplane]

It's gonna be like a sudden rise in mental illness with people screaming obscenities in the streets seemingly at no one.

It's all making me want to seek out a place to live where humans actually want to "human".

Tech is invading everywhere too much, too quickly and often to do things of questionable value.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Sounds like best case another Vision Pro, worst case another Apple Car.

Not sure who this is really for either. Feels like it’s aimed at people who want vision like a horse, rather than something that actually improves everyday use.

I would buy Tactical AirPods that give me 360 degree vision.

But until then, or until they get a version of Siri that can do any of this, it's all pointless.

It reminds me of the story of the Apple Car demo where Jony and Tim had someone follow them around pretending to be Siri.