Apple is reportedly developing earbuds with built-in cameras to provide visual context for Siri, with a potential launch window set for 2027. According to The Verge, these sensors would serve as a bridge toward the company's eventual smart glasses project.
Reporting indicates Apple is testing camera-equipped AirPods that utilize artificial intelligence to see a user's surroundings. The project is expected to launch alongside future software updates as a precursor to wearable smart glasses.
If these rumors prove true, adding vision to AirPods would significantly change how voice assistants interact with the physical world and signal Apple's serious intent to dominate the spatial computing and AI glasses market.
Based on reporting from Mark Gurman via The Verge, a highly credible source for Apple hardware roadmap leaks.
Start with the primary evidence, then review supporting sources and context.
Richard Lawler
“Tech AI Gadgets Apple 2027 rumors: AirPods with cameras for AI and the second folding iPhone All leading up to the eventual smart glasses. All leading up to the eventual smart glas”
Recommended from Apple topics and recent confidence changes
%20--%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cstyle%3e%20.st0%20{%20fill:%20%23e60012;%20}%20.st1%20{%20fill:%20%23666;%20}%20.st2%20{%20fill:%20%23111;%20}%20%3c/style%3e%3c/defs%3e%3cpath%20class='st2'%20d='M208.79.2c10.12-1.03,18.93,1.81,26.29,8.72l77.13,96.19c2.89,2.23,6.06-.63,6.05-3.83l-.02-87.19c1.16-18.51,31.42-18.04,32.08.55v119.76c-1.34,25.11-32.65,27.51-48.09,13.24l-75.42-95.14c-2.82-2.58-7.03-2.45-7.42,1.87l.03,86.1c.01,21.09-31.94,21.37-32.63.55l.03-118.08c1.06-12.97,8.93-21.42,21.97-22.74Z'/%3e%3cpath%20class='st2'%20d='M12.13,1.28c28.23,1.02,58-1.81,86.06-.16,58.19,3.42,87.38,69.72,59.24,118.26-30.33,52.32-91.41,33.17-141.59,36.82-7.03-.55-12.94-3.9-15.01-10.94C-.84,102.42.61,59.25.1,16.3.7,8.64,4.37,3,12.13,1.28ZM39.75,31.63c-4.09.5-6.61,3.23-7.05,7.3,1.69,25.45-2.25,53.81-.02,78.92.43,4.85,2.61,7.02,7.46,7.45,31.53-2.7,72.07,10.71,90.43-23.37,16.64-30.88-3.09-68.26-38.47-70.47-17.01-1.06-35.22.72-52.35.17Z'/%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M451.82.76c14.02-1.45,22.07,5.56,28.57,16.93,7.85,13.74,14.8,30.14,21.65,44.58,11.76,24.81,22.94,49.91,34.42,74.86,6.22,17.37-16.52,25.98-26.77,12.95l-49.9-105.74c-2.92-4.12-8.88-2.9-10.92,1.47l-48.61,103.72c-5.67,9.12-21.27,9.25-26.5-.49-3.21-5.96-1.09-10.33,1.15-16.01,8.28-20.95,19.9-43.62,29.61-64.21,7.23-15.34,14.36-31.83,22.28-46.71,5.84-10.97,11.36-19.93,25.03-21.34Z'/%3e%3cpath%20class='st1'%20d='M354.87,260.86c-1.34-1.43-.43-6.14-.7-8.14-8.6,12.04-28.47,12.98-39.48,3.85-12.17-10.1-12.56-35.25-1.89-46.55,10.21-10.81,31.8-10.33,40.81,1.87-.23-1.61.59-3.13.61-4.69.06-7.12-1.35-14.7-.53-21.99.44-3.92,1.31-5.93,5.76-5.34,5.36.72,2.99,8.02,3.07,11.28.47,19.6,1.49,41.18.49,60.74-.07,1.41-.64,8.36-1.05,8.88-1.68,1.61-5.54,1.72-7.09.09ZM329.73,210.39c-19.97,2.69-20.94,38.81-1.64,43.83,12.31,3.2,23.12-3.1,25.38-15.7,3-16.68-5.49-30.59-23.74-28.13Z'/%3e%3cpath%20class='st1'%20d='M414.37,235.07c-.12,17.69,19.96,25.23,33.88,16.46,2.61-1.64,7.32-7.85,10.24-2.89s-5.56,9.99-9.34,11.52c-29.14,11.79-53.82-15.18-40.78-42.94,10.64-22.66,48.71-19.04,51.78,7.15.27,2.28.92,10.7-2.43,10.7h-43.36ZM451.38,227.9c.55-21.16-29.25-24.48-35.92-5.26-.31.89-1.81,5.26-.25,5.26h36.18Z'/%3e%3cpath%20class='st1'%20d='M176.19,202.67c7.46-.84,18.53-.08,24.43,5.08,2.3,2.01,5.28,6.34,2.25,8.88-4.25,3.56-7.89-3.3-11.65-5.01-6.03-2.75-18.03-2.84-22.38,3.02-4.03,5.44.25,9.84,5.57,11.56,9.51,3.1,27.8,2.02,30.8,14.48,5.86,24.38-32.03,27.02-45.18,15.34-2.55-2.26-5.29-7.78-1.25-9.5,4.64-1.98,6.61,3.18,10.34,5.38,6.78,3.98,23.63,5.29,27.18-3.21,5.03-12.04-14.18-12.31-21.11-13.88-9.73-2.21-17.6-6.26-16.54-17.67.82-8.84,9.49-13.57,17.54-14.47Z'/%3e%3cpath%20class='st1'%20d='M63.23,260.86c-.65-.69-.64-1.96-.72-2.87-1.39-16.22,1.11-34.37,0-50.81-.05-2.53,1.07-3.91,3.62-4.14,6.44-.56,5.15,4.71,5.25,9.4l4.41-4.69c10.88-8.45,30.96-7.68,36.56,6.53,3,7.61,2.95,33.74,2.13,42.6-.64,6.91-7.92,6.29-8.74,2.62-.84-10.96.7-22.69-.1-33.56s-5.96-16.52-17.44-15.73c-24.4,1.7-14.9,32.77-16.94,48.73-.64,3.45-5.97,4.09-8.02,1.91Z'/%3e%3cpath%20class='st1'%20d='M514.35,213c1.29.33.93-.3,1.27-.7,1.69-1.97,2.63-3.88,4.86-5.6,3.68-2.83,17.08-7.73,17.13-.05.04,5.45-5.56,3.82-9.56,4.86-19.56,5.06-12.3,32.91-13.71,47.55-.72,3.82-7.91,4.17-8.3.04l.54-54.68c1.57-2.62,7.77-1.21,7.77.59v8Z'/%3e%3cpath%20class='st1'%20d='M6.59,203.19c2.04-.48,4.95-.53,5.82,1.68l.45,53.68c-.6,4.61-8.21,5.19-8.88-.57-1.84-15.83,1.41-35.13,0-51.33.06-1.73.89-3.05,2.61-3.46Z'/%3e%3cpath%20class='st1'%20d='M253.48,203.19c2.93-.68,6.16.05,6.25,3.46-1.4,16.21,1.84,35.49,0,51.33-.56,4.81-5.89,5.51-8.56,1.91l-.29-53.24c.06-1.73.89-3.05,2.61-3.46Z'/%3e%3cpath%20class='st1'%20d='M6.05,180.04c11.37-2.9,10.88,13.61,1.22,11.77-6.66-1.27-6.07-10.53-1.22-11.77Z'/%3e%3cpath%20class='st1'%20d='M252.93,180.02c11.46-2.59,10.5,13.27,1.14,11.91-6.22-.9-6.41-10.72-1.14-11.91Z'/%3e%3c/svg%3e)
%20--%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cstyle%3e%20.st0%20{%20fill:%20%23e60012;%20}%20.st1%20{%20fill:%20%23a1a1a1;%20}%20.st2%20{%20fill:%20%23f2f2f2;%20}%20%3c/style%3e%3c/defs%3e%3cpath%20class='st2'%20d='M208.79.2c10.12-1.03,18.93,1.81,26.29,8.72l77.13,96.19c2.89,2.23,6.06-.63,6.05-3.83l-.02-87.19c1.16-18.51,31.42-18.04,32.08.55v119.76c-1.34,25.11-32.65,27.51-48.09,13.24l-75.42-95.14c-2.82-2.58-7.03-2.45-7.42,1.87l.03,86.1c.01,21.09-31.94,21.37-32.63.55l.03-118.08c1.06-12.97,8.93-21.42,21.97-22.74Z'/%3e%3cpath%20class='st2'%20d='M12.13,1.28c28.23,1.02,58-1.81,86.06-.16,58.19,3.42,87.38,69.72,59.24,118.26-30.33,52.32-91.41,33.17-141.59,36.82-7.03-.55-12.94-3.9-15.01-10.94C-.84,102.42.61,59.25.1,16.3.7,8.64,4.37,3,12.13,1.28ZM39.75,31.63c-4.09.5-6.61,3.23-7.05,7.3,1.69,25.45-2.25,53.81-.02,78.92.43,4.85,2.61,7.02,7.46,7.45,31.53-2.7,72.07,10.71,90.43-23.37,16.64-30.88-3.09-68.26-38.47-70.47-17.01-1.06-35.22.72-52.35.17Z'/%3e%3cpath%20class='st0'%20d='M451.82.76c14.02-1.45,22.07,5.56,28.57,16.93,7.85,13.74,14.8,30.14,21.65,44.58,11.76,24.81,22.94,49.91,34.42,74.86,6.22,17.37-16.52,25.98-26.77,12.95l-49.9-105.74c-2.92-4.12-8.88-2.9-10.92,1.47l-48.61,103.72c-5.67,9.12-21.27,9.25-26.5-.49-3.21-5.96-1.09-10.33,1.15-16.01,8.28-20.95,19.9-43.62,29.61-64.21,7.23-15.34,14.36-31.83,22.28-46.71,5.84-10.97,11.36-19.93,25.03-21.34Z'/%3e%3cpath%20class='st1'%20d='M354.87,260.86c-1.34-1.43-.43-6.14-.7-8.14-8.6,12.04-28.47,12.98-39.48,3.85-12.17-10.1-12.56-35.25-1.89-46.55,10.21-10.81,31.8-10.33,40.81,1.87-.23-1.61.59-3.13.61-4.69.06-7.12-1.35-14.7-.53-21.99.44-3.92,1.31-5.93,5.76-5.34,5.36.72,2.99,8.02,3.07,11.28.47,19.6,1.49,41.18.49,60.74-.07,1.41-.64,8.36-1.05,8.88-1.68,1.61-5.54,1.72-7.09.09ZM329.73,210.39c-19.97,2.69-20.94,38.81-1.64,43.83,12.31,3.2,23.12-3.1,25.38-15.7,3-16.68-5.49-30.59-23.74-28.13Z'/%3e%3cpath%20class='st1'%20d='M414.37,235.07c-.12,17.69,19.96,25.23,33.88,16.46,2.61-1.64,7.32-7.85,10.24-2.89s-5.56,9.99-9.34,11.52c-29.14,11.79-53.82-15.18-40.78-42.94,10.64-22.66,48.71-19.04,51.78,7.15.27,2.28.92,10.7-2.43,10.7h-43.36ZM451.38,227.9c.55-21.16-29.25-24.48-35.92-5.26-.31.89-1.81,5.26-.25,5.26h36.18Z'/%3e%3cpath%20class='st1'%20d='M176.19,202.67c7.46-.84,18.53-.08,24.43,5.08,2.3,2.01,5.28,6.34,2.25,8.88-4.25,3.56-7.89-3.3-11.65-5.01-6.03-2.75-18.03-2.84-22.38,3.02-4.03,5.44.25,9.84,5.57,11.56,9.51,3.1,27.8,2.02,30.8,14.48,5.86,24.38-32.03,27.02-45.18,15.34-2.55-2.26-5.29-7.78-1.25-9.5,4.64-1.98,6.61,3.18,10.34,5.38,6.78,3.98,23.63,5.29,27.18-3.21,5.03-12.04-14.18-12.31-21.11-13.88-9.73-2.21-17.6-6.26-16.54-17.67.82-8.84,9.49-13.57,17.54-14.47Z'/%3e%3cpath%20class='st1'%20d='M63.23,260.86c-.65-.69-.64-1.96-.72-2.87-1.39-16.22,1.11-34.37,0-50.81-.05-2.53,1.07-3.91,3.62-4.14,6.44-.56,5.15,4.71,5.25,9.4l4.41-4.69c10.88-8.45,30.96-7.68,36.56,6.53,3,7.61,2.95,33.74,2.13,42.6-.64,6.91-7.92,6.29-8.74,2.62-.84-10.96.7-22.69-.1-33.56s-5.96-16.52-17.44-15.73c-24.4,1.7-14.9,32.77-16.94,48.73-.64,3.45-5.97,4.09-8.02,1.91Z'/%3e%3cpath%20class='st1'%20d='M514.35,213c1.29.33.93-.3,1.27-.7,1.69-1.97,2.63-3.88,4.86-5.6,3.68-2.83,17.08-7.73,17.13-.05.04,5.45-5.56,3.82-9.56,4.86-19.56,5.06-12.3,32.91-13.71,47.55-.72,3.82-7.91,4.17-8.3.04l.54-54.68c1.57-2.62,7.77-1.21,7.77.59v8Z'/%3e%3cpath%20class='st1'%20d='M6.59,203.19c2.04-.48,4.95-.53,5.82,1.68l.45,53.68c-.6,4.61-8.21,5.19-8.88-.57-1.84-15.83,1.41-35.13,0-51.33.06-1.73.89-3.05,2.61-3.46Z'/%3e%3cpath%20class='st1'%20d='M253.48,203.19c2.93-.68,6.16.05,6.25,3.46-1.4,16.21,1.84,35.49,0,51.33-.56,4.81-5.89,5.51-8.56,1.91l-.29-53.24c.06-1.73.89-3.05,2.61-3.46Z'/%3e%3cpath%20class='st1'%20d='M6.05,180.04c11.37-2.9,10.88,13.61,1.22,11.77-6.66-1.27-6.07-10.53-1.22-11.77Z'/%3e%3cpath%20class='st1'%20d='M252.93,180.02c11.46-2.59,10.5,13.27,1.14,11.91-6.22-.9-6.41-10.72-1.14-11.91Z'/%3e%3c/svg%3e)