Apple may be preparing AirPods with built-in cameras for AI features

Apple may have accidentally revealed a new version of its AirPods with built-in cameras, potentially giving the wireless earbuds a new role in the company’s artificial intelligence plans.

MacRumors reported that the apparent leak was found in a video included with the macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate. The footage shows a person wearing AirPods, looking at a book, and asking Siri to remember it. The demonstration appears to show how Apple’s Visual Intelligence feature could work with the new hardware.

Leaked video shows Siri using visual information

The video, which was also shared by X user @aaronp613, shows a man wearing AirPods as he examines a book. He asks Siri to remember what he is looking at, prompting a voice response that introduces the Visual Intelligence feature.

Here is your first look at AirPods with Cameras in action using Visual Intelligence.

This video file came from macOS 26.7 RC pic.twitter.com/yo7RI4MCeu

— Aaron (@aaronp613) August 18, 2026

The footage does not clearly show cameras on the AirPods. However, the earbuds appear similar to the current AirPods Pro, with the main visible difference being a thicker stem. That change could potentially provide room for cameras or other components required for the reported feature.

The technology could allow the AirPods to capture a low-resolution view of objects in front of the wearer. The imagery could then be supplied to Apple’s AI-powered Siri, which could interpret what the user is seeing and respond accordingly.

The feature could offer a hands-free way to interact with information in the surrounding environment. Instead of reaching for a smartphone to identify or save something, users could potentially ask Siri to perform the task while continuing to wear their AirPods.

Camera-equipped earbuds could create privacy concerns

Adding cameras could also introduce privacy challenges for Apple. Although the reported cameras would produce low-resolution imagery, they would still allow the earbuds to capture visual information from the wearer’s surroundings.

That could raise concerns in public places, offices and other settings where people may not expect a nearby wearable device to have cameras. The small size and position of the hardware could make it less obvious when visual information is being captured compared with a conventional smartphone.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman previously reported in May that Apple was developing AirPods with cameras. Gurman has also suggested that the company could use some form of indicator to show when the cameras are active.

An indicator could be particularly important if Apple expects people to use the AirPods around others. It could give those nearby a clearer indication that the cameras are being used, while also helping the wearer understand when visual data is being captured.

Apple has not confirmed the reported hardware or explained how it would address privacy concerns. Details about how images would be processed, whether they would be stored and what controls users would have remain unclear.

New models could arrive as early as next month

The discovery of the demonstration in macOS Tahoe 26.7 has led to speculation that Apple could announce the camera-equipped AirPods at its expected iPhone 18 event next month.

References within the macOS release candidate reportedly identify the new AirPods by the codename B790. However, that model could be separate from another camera-equipped AirPods device that Apple is reportedly developing for 2027.

Gurman previously identified the later model as B798. The existence of separate model numbers could indicate that Apple is working on more than one generation of camera-equipped AirPods and considering the technology as part of a longer-term product strategy.

The company has not confirmed a launch date, specifications or pricing for either model. Questions also remain over camera quality, battery life, privacy controls and how closely the devices would integrate with Apple’s upcoming AI features.

If Apple is preparing the B790 model for release, the expected iPhone 18 event could provide an opportunity to introduce it officially. Until then, the appearance of the Visual Intelligence demonstration in Apple’s software remains an indication, not confirmation, of the company’s plans.