Why Apple Might Put Cameras Into Its Next AirPods

If Apple were to launch AirPods with cameras, it could be a significant blow to the company's reputation for prioritizing user privacy. The mere existence of such a product would raise questions about whether people nearby are being recorded. According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, Apple has designed AirPods with cameras to give Siri visual context for spoken requests.

The earbuds are in the late stages of testing with Apple employees as part of the company's "AI device push." However, a source who wished to remain anonymous expressed doubts that the product will launch soon, citing concerns over Siri's limited visual intelligence and the potential for significant privacy risks. The idea of adding cameras to AirPods may seem alarming, especially at a time when consumers are increasingly concerned about casual surveillance through smart glasses, doorbell cams, and phone cameras. So, what advantages could Apple be seeking by adding cameras to its earbuds?

According to Bloomberg, the cameras would be low-resolution and act as Siri's "eyes" to provide visual context for spoken requests. Potential use cases include landmark-based navigation and identifying foods to help with grocery shopping. Industry analysts suggest that the cameras could enable features like vision-based location and accuracy.

"Vision-based location is the most obvious one," says Anshel Sag, principal analyst at Moor Insights & Strategy. "It's got to be a very passive kind of experience, and that's why I think using it for location-based accuracy, to rectify GPS, makes sense." Google is also exploring similar technology in its upcoming smart glasses. The integration of visual data from AirPods cameras could also enhance the capabilities of Siri and other Apple devices.

Peter Richardson, vice president at Counterpoint Research, suggests that the AI assistant could use visual information to provide more intuitive responses. "That's something that requires visual information," Richardson says. "There's lots of context: Is it the middle of the week?

Have I got training in the morning? Is it a Friday when maybe I like to have a glass of wine? Are my friends over?" The potential applications of AirPods cameras extend beyond convenience features, with possible benefits for accessibility.

For example, an all-seeing Siri via AirPods could enhance the capabilities of Apple's Image Explorer and Voice Over features for visually impaired users. However, the question remains whether the cameras would be forward-facing or world-facing, and Gurman indicates that a "small LED light" will turn on when visual data is being fed into the cloud.