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Apple AirPods with cameras leaked in macOS software update
A leaked video found within the macOS Tahoe 26.7 Release Candidate has provided a first look at unreleased Apple AirPods equipped with cameras. The footage demonstrates the use of Visual Intelligence, where a user can hold up an object, such as a book, for Siri to identify and save information about it.
Despite the leak sparking speculation of an imminent launch, reports from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman indicate that these camera-enabled AirPods are not expected to arrive until 2027. The delay is reportedly due to supply chain issues and software development challenges. Apple is currently working on two versions: the B790, a modified AirPods Pro 3, and the B798, a next-generation model.
The integrated cameras are intended to be low-resolution sensors designed to provide environmental context to Apple Intelligence and Siri, rather than for traditional photography or video recording. This design choice aims to mitigate privacy concerns, though the technology still faces scrutiny regarding how it captures data from the wearer's surroundings.
Entities
AirPods · AirPods Pro · Apple · MacRumors · Mark Gurman · Meta · Siri · Siri · Visual Intelligence · macOS · macOS Tahoe · macOS Tahoe