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Bloomberg editor Mark Gurman has revealed that Apple is continuing to explore the integration of miniature cameras into its AirPods wireless earbuds. These cameras, however, are infrared sensors rather than traditional image-capturing devices.
This week, Apple reorganized its Siri digital assistant team, appointing Mike Rockwell—the executive currently overseeing the development of the Vision Pro spatial computing device—to lead Siri’s evolution.
Rockwell brings a wealth of hardware expertise to the role, and Gurman believes his experience may enable Apple to embed artificial intelligence more deeply into its future devices. Among the ideas under consideration is equipping AirPods with external cameras to feed data directly into AI systems.
From a technical standpoint, these sensors resemble the infrared receivers used in the iPhone’s Face ID system. In a June 2024 blog post, TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo noted that Apple plans to begin mass production of AirPods with integrated infrared cameras before 2026.
According to Kuo, these enhanced AirPods will work in tandem with Apple’s Vision Pro headset to deliver a more immersive spatial audio experience. For example, while watching videos on Vision Pro, users wearing the new AirPods could benefit from directional audio emphasis—amplifying sounds based on where they turn their heads, thereby enriching the spatial and computational experience.
The infrared cameras could also enable gesture-based air control, allowing the device to respond to hand movements with greater ease and precision, thereby offering a more intuitive and accurate method of interaction.
If the reports are accurate and Apple’s development proceeds on schedule, mass production of the camera-equipped AirPods could commence in 2026, with a potential launch in the autumn of that year or the spring of 2027.
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