Camera AirPods Code Reveals Image Capture Resolution, Status Light, Person Detection, and More

[Oestreich Dieter]

Seriously, how many guys go into a public bathroom, stand at a urinal and still have their AirPods in? I don't want someone next to me suddenly having the ability to record my private parts. The same concern applies to Meta's camera glasses. Once cameras become something people casually wear on their face or ears, it becomes much harder to know when you're being recorded.

Bro, are you walking around a public bathroom with your junk out? No one is going to capture your private parts in the bathroom if all you are doing is using the urinal and leaving.

 

[McNoise]

I completely understand that blind and visually impaired people could genuinely benefit from camera technology.

If you’d understood it, you wouldn’t have written your comment.

There are smarter ways to solve the accessibility problem without making everyone adopt the same surveillance technology.

What ‘smarter ways’ are you on about, exactly? A guide dog that tells you what the world looks like by barking? There are technologies that can help blind people regain their sight, and you’re rejecting them because someone might film you whilst you’re having a wee? Ridiculous...

Anyone wanting to take photos/videos secretly these days buys a mini camera that’s easy to hide – it’s likely to cost only a fraction of the price of AirPods or a pair of Ray-Ban sunglasses. Bans are pointless – regulations help a little … because then the victims can defend themselves.

 

[xalea]

If they release this, every decent gym will ban (probably all) AirPods. Rightfully, too! What an own-goal over something nobody is asking for.

That’s your biggest concern from this? Lol

I wonder how much compute is needed to constantly process stereoscopic images from the 200 million people who will buy and use these.

Also, the clutching of pearls and rending of hair/clothes over the surveillance aspect… we’re already constantly watched. Every inch of this planet’s surface is watched 24/7 by satellites, drones, etc. There’s nothing you can really do about it.

 

[DocMultimedia]

Am i the only one who is tired of this surveillance culture, with cameras everywhere ? Cameras in your phones, in your glasses, in your headphones, in your watches, soon you won’t be able to buy a Tshirt without a built-in mini-camera filming everything around you in 360 degree angle.

It’s a self-inflicted Orwellian world. We’re willingly building a Panopticon to live in.

I like the sound of those t-shirts. The data centers to store all that info from millions of shirts would be nuts.

 

[SactoGuy18]

I think Apple is likely having its legal department looking at possible legal issues with the image sensor equipped AirPods. They may decide NOT to go ahead with the project if this modified AirPods Pro model ends up being banned in many locations, let alone countries.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I think Apple is likely having its legal department looking at possible legal issues with the image sensor equipped AirPods. They may decide NOT to go ahead with the project if this modified AirPods Pro model ends up being banned in many locations, let alone countries.

I hope they Ternus away from this bad idea and cancel it.

 

[DougiePhresh]

I remember people saying the same when cameras started appearing on phones

Yes - and with hindsight, that was a huge loss for society. Let’s not make that same mistake again

 

[DougiePhresh]

“ban” typically has no weight or enforcement.

Can you explain this assertion?

 

[iMac The Knife]

I hope they Ternus away from this bad idea and cancel it.

 

[tech_enthusiast_]

AirPods are much more difficult to detect someone taking a record versus a phone, even with an “indicator light”. Who knows what Apple will allow on these things in a few years’ time. People may cancel memberships over the increased, uncontrolled surveillance.

Not to mention that the debate about people taking/sharing photos of other people in the gym (and other public places) with their phone is still going and has intensified recently. It's not like that has just been fine for all these years. Gyms might not outright ban phones but taking pictures in the gym is still creepy and annoying in most cases

 

[turbineseaplane]

Not to mention that the debate about people taking/sharing photos of other people in the gym (and other public places) with their phone is still going and has intensified recently. It's not like that has just been fine for all these years. Gyms might not outright ban phones but taking pictures in the gym is still creepy and annoying in most cases

I've been taking some videos in my gym lately for the online coaching group I'm in and I'm intensely sensitive about it and only do it in ways/angles that make it obvious I'm only capturing myself and the area I'm in.

Cameras on Airpods would be a disaster.

 

[tech_enthusiast_]

I think Apple is likely having its legal department looking at possible legal issues with the image sensor equipped AirPods. They may decide NOT to go ahead with the project if this modified AirPods Pro model ends up being banned in many locations, let alone countries.

I have a feeling that these won't happen, given the growing negative sentiment towards cameras with the general public. I've already seen multiple articles in mainstream, non-techie publications about "new Apple AirPods will have creepy camera surveillance."

 

[Friendlier-Rebel]

I wrote this in June 2026. I still believe it:

——————

[/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]Churchman​

macrumors regular​

• Jun 22, 2026
• #40

I see a huge market for these new AirPods. IF....

I believe there is going to be a company or developer who creates a safety / security App linked to these cameras in the AirPods and the enhanced Siri on the iPhones.

Siri will be able to say to the camera-enabled AirPod wearer:
"Churchman..." "Yes Siri?" "AirPods Personal Security Alert has detected the same person has been following you 10 feet back for the last 3 city blocks. There is a secure banking location 8 feet ahead of you on your immediately left. Please enter that location as soon as possible. I have sent a image of the person to your iPhone. If this is an emergency, please alert bank security and local police and show them the photo."

Or...

"Churchman..." "Yes Siri?" "AirPods Child Security Alert has detected a potential threat to your child. Please look at your child on the swing. A person not in your approved child contacts has just approached your child with candy. Because she is listening to music on Airpods, I was able to record what the person said to your child. Please listen to the exchange now. Please retrieve your child now. Your child's AirPods captured a photo fo the person. I have forwarded the photo to your iPhone. If this is an emergency, contact the local police and give them the photo."


Or...

"Churchman..." "Yes Siri?" "I must interrupt your call. AirPods Executive Security Alert has detected a possible threat. AirPods camera and iPhone Lidar indicates a person 10 feet to your right is carrying an object that possibly matches the shape of a knife. The person's trajectory will shortly intersect with you. Quickly, visually verify the accuracy of this assessment. If needed, activate the iPhone emergency alarm. Then immediately move to secure location."


Or...

"Churchman..." "Yes Siri?" "AirPods Personal Security Alert has detected a possible threat to your elderly mother. She was wearing her AirPods when she answered her door. Please listen to this exchange. AirPods audio sensors indicate a struggle and quick movements. She is no longer at the address you associate with her. Mapping indicates she is moving rapidly in a Northwesterly direction. If you believe this is an emergency, please call 911 and send local police the audio and AirPods images that have been sent to your iPhone. I can link you directly to your mother should you wish to check-in right now."


If there is a truly robust safety / security App tied to the camera-enabled AirPods and AI-enabled iPhones... and their ability to use cameras, lidar, real time mapping, and AI to do measured personal threat assessments, I see many, many buyers for this:
- executives and companies wishing to buy these to protect C-Suite leadership
- women
- parents buying these for their children to enhance child security when out in public
- people buying these as an extra layer of monitoring for elderly relatives
- travelers buying these for security against muggings / pickpockets
- police departments and law enforcement
- public figures of all types

This will sell nicely with the right safety / security Apps

This would be creepy as hell.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I wrote this in June 2026. I still believe it:

——————

[/HEADING]
[HEADING=3]Churchman​

macrumors regular​

• Jun 22, 2026
• #40

I see a huge market for these new AirPods. IF....

I believe there is going to be a company or developer who creates a safety / security App linked to these cameras in the AirPods and the enhanced Siri on the iPhones.

Siri will be able to say to the camera-enabled AirPod wearer:
"Churchman..." "Yes Siri?" "AirPods Personal Security Alert has detected the same person has been following you 10 feet back for the last 3 city blocks. There is a secure banking location 8 feet ahead of you on your immediately left. Please enter that location as soon as possible. I have sent a image of the person to your iPhone. If this is an emergency, please alert bank security and local police and show them the photo."

Or...

"Churchman..." "Yes Siri?" "AirPods Child Security Alert has detected a potential threat to your child. Please look at your child on the swing. A person not in your approved child contacts has just approached your child with candy. Because she is listening to music on Airpods, I was able to record what the person said to your child. Please listen to the exchange now. Please retrieve your child now. Your child's AirPods captured a photo fo the person. I have forwarded the photo to your iPhone. If this is an emergency, contact the local police and give them the photo."


Or...

"Churchman..." "Yes Siri?" "I must interrupt your call. AirPods Executive Security Alert has detected a possible threat. AirPods camera and iPhone Lidar indicates a person 10 feet to your right is carrying an object that possibly matches the shape of a knife. The person's trajectory will shortly intersect with you. Quickly, visually verify the accuracy of this assessment. If needed, activate the iPhone emergency alarm. Then immediately move to secure location."


Or...

"Churchman..." "Yes Siri?" "AirPods Personal Security Alert has detected a possible threat to your elderly mother. She was wearing her AirPods when she answered her door. Please listen to this exchange. AirPods audio sensors indicate a struggle and quick movements. She is no longer at the address you associate with her. Mapping indicates she is moving rapidly in a Northwesterly direction. If you believe this is an emergency, please call 911 and send local police the audio and AirPods images that have been sent to your iPhone. I can link you directly to your mother should you wish to check-in right now."


If there is a truly robust safety / security App tied to the camera-enabled AirPods and AI-enabled iPhones... and their ability to use cameras, lidar, real time mapping, and AI to do measured personal threat assessments, I see many, many buyers for this:
- executives and companies wishing to buy these to protect C-Suite leadership
- women
- parents buying these for their children to enhance child security when out in public
- people buying these as an extra layer of monitoring for elderly relatives
- travelers buying these for security against muggings / pickpockets
- police departments and law enforcement
- public figures of all types

This will sell nicely with the right safety / security Apps

This is describing a full blown dystopia.

 

[npmacuser5]

Women and some men with long hair might be a challenge. 😎

 

[spazzcat]

Welcome to the "Flock", Apple... 🤔

Except Apple requires a warrant before they give data to law-enforcement

 

[spazzcat]

That’s the thing. AI. Does EVERYTHING need to have AI in it? Will that justify price increases for a good portion of consumer goods?

Everything will have AI in it, but a large number of things have had "AI" in already they just didn't call it that...