Apple tests camera‑equipped AirPods and plans flexible AI in iOS 27

Apple is testing a new generation of AirPods that include low‑resolution cameras on the stems to give Siri visual context for voice commands. The hardware is in advanced testing with employees, but the visual‑AI component for Siri has not yet met expectations. Possible uses include landmark‑based navigation, food‑item identification while shopping and accessibility features such as Image Explorer and VoiceOver for users with visual impairments. Privacy concerns focus on whether image data will be processed locally or transmitted, and battery‑life tests indicate the cameras could halve runtime to roughly three hours.

Apple is also preparing iOS 27, which will let users select among different artificial‑intelligence models, turning the operating system into a customizable AI platform. This change aims to give users control over which AI engine powers on‑device features such as the assistant, expanding Apple’s AI capabilities.