Apple is reportedly moving AirPods far beyond their role as wireless earbuds. The company is said to be developing a new generation with a camera built into each earbud, aimed not at taking photos or video, but at giving Siri a way to understand what the user is looking at.
That shift would turn AirPods into a more active AI interface, one that can work without hands and without forcing users to open an iPhone. According to Bloomberg, citing Mark Gurman, the project is already in its final development stage.
A different kind of camera on AirPods
The cameras are said to be positioned on the stem of each earbud. Apple is also reportedly making the stem slightly longer than the one on the current AirPods Pro 3.
Their role would be very limited compared with a phone camera. Instead of capturing high-quality images, the system would send low-resolution visual information that Siri could use to interpret basic context.
That design points to a feature Apple sees as Visual Intelligence for the ears. A user could point the AirPods toward an object, then ask Siri about it without reaching for the phone.
How the feature is expected to work
The idea is not to turn AirPods into imaging devices. Apple appears to be treating the camera as an extra set of eyes for Siri, allowing the assistant to respond with more context-aware answers.
In practice, that could help in situations such as identifying landmarks for directions. It could also support tasks like reading information from a poster and adding the details to a calendar.
The low-resolution approach is part of that strategy. For Apple’s intended use, the system does not need detailed image quality as long as it can recognize simple objects and surrounding context.
Part of a broader AI push
The AirPods project has reportedly been in development for about four years. That timeline suggests it is not a short experiment, but part of a larger plan tied to Apple’s AI ambitions.
Mark Gurman said the new Siri version will be an important component of the device. He also said that Siri is expected to be part of the OS 27 update.
If that combination arrives as planned, AirPods would do more than handle voice commands. They would also feed simple visual input into the assistant so it can answer questions in a more relevant way.
Still not fully confirmed for release
The prototype is said to be close to its final design and capabilities. After that stage, Apple could move into Product Validation Testing, or PVT, a limited production phase used for internal testing before a public launch.
Even so, a commercial release is not guaranteed. Products still in development can change, slip, or be canceled before they reach the market.
Apple has not announced an official name or price for the device. Gurman noted that AirPods Ultra is one possible name, but it remains only a possibility at this stage.
The reported concept also fits into Apple’s wider wearable strategy. Alongside the camera-equipped AirPods, the company is said to be preparing other AI devices, including smart glasses and wearables shaped like a pin or pendant.
If the earbuds do arrive, they would mark a new category for Apple’s wearable lineup. AirPods would no longer be seen only as premium audio hardware, but as an always-on AI interface designed to help interpret the world around the user.