AirPods Ultra with cameras just leaked in video — and the privacy debate has already started
A leaked video may have confirmed the imminent arrival of the next generation of AirPods.
Apple's AirPods Ultra, a potential next-generation iteration of the popular wireless earbuds, may soon feature onboard cameras for visual input. According to reports, these cameras could be showcased during Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 event. MacRumors claims to have discovered a video within the macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate, which demonstrates the AirPods Ultra in use.
The video reveals a man interacting with a book while wearing a distinct pair of white AirPods Ultra. A Siri-like voice prompts, "With Visual Intelligence, your world becomes savable. See something you like? Just ask me to save it for later." If obstructions, such as long hair, obstruct the camera, users receive a notification warning them to remove the obstruction for accurate information.
In contrast to smart glasses, the AirPods Ultra cameras are not intended for taking pictures but rather for feeding visual data to Siri's Visual Intelligence feature without users having to pull out their iPhones. The cameras are expected to include an LED indicator to signify when the earbuds are capturing external information.
While privacy concerns have already surfaced, Apple's strong reputation for on-device data processing and genuine product innovations may help mitigate backlash, particularly if the company emphasizes privacy-centric messaging.
Written by urgent.news from Tom's Guide's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
