The upcoming AirPods have been a subject of much speculation, with rumors swirling around the potential addition of cameras to the popular earbuds. According to reports, these camera-equipped AirPods were developed under the codename B798, with an alternative design codenamed B790 also in the works.
The concept of camera-equipped AirPods may seem like a departure from the standard AirPods design, but it's not entirely new. The AirPods Pro 3 featured a heart rate sensor, and some speculated that the camera-equipped version would be the AirPods Pro 4. However, it's unclear if this is the case, or if the camera-equipped AirPods will have a different designation altogether.
The cameras on these earbuds are said to be capable of capturing both standard spectrum and infrared, but their primary purpose is not for taking photos or videos. Instead, they will be used to enable AI-powered features, such as gesture controls, audio adjustments based on environment, and even recognizing whether someone is talking to you or just nearby. This technology could also be used to give Siri a more contextual understanding of your surroundings and activities, as part of Visual Intelligence.
The possibilities for the camera-equipped AirPods are vast, and it's likely that they will require changes to other Apple software and services. For example, they could be used for workout tracking, counting reps and sets, or even nutrition tracking based on ingredient labels. Currently, there's no information on a specific use case for these earbuds, but the potential is exciting.
