A new report from Bloomberg reveals that Apple has made significant progress in developing AirPods with built-in cameras, bringing the project to an advanced stage and placing the new product on the verge of mass production.
The report explains that current prototypes feature a near-final design and capabilities, with each earbud containing a camera on either end. Surprisingly, these cameras will not be used for taking photos or recording traditional video. Instead, they will act as “eyes” for the Siri smart assistant, scanning the user’s surroundings at low resolution to analyze visual data.
Designally, the new earbuds will resemble the current AirPods Pro, with the only difference being a slightly longer stem to accommodate the camera modules. Apple will also equip the earbuds with a small LED indicator that illuminates when visual data is being transmitted to the cloud, ensuring user privacy and alerting them when the cameras are active.
The earbuds are currently in the “design validation testing” phase, where Apple employees are testing the near-final prototypes. The company is expected to soon move to the final stage, “production verification testing,” which directly precedes the start of large-scale consumer manufacturing.
Regarding the release date, the report indicated that Apple had planned to launch the product in the first half of this year. However, the project, which has been in development for four years, faced delays due to technical hurdles related to the development of the next generation of Siri. Nevertheless, Apple anticipates “strong demand” for this new innovation and is currently working to secure supply chains to ensure smooth production upon the official launch.
