New AirPods To Come With Visual Intelligence? Leaked Video Shows Apple's Camera-Equipped Earbuds in Action
A short video hidden inside Apple's macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate has offered the clearest look yet at the company's long-rumoured camera-equipped AirPods, with the footage showing the earbuds working alongside Siri's Visual Intelligence feature. What does the video show? The clip, first spotted by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris and shared widely on X, shows a man holding up a book so a…
A recently discovered video inside Apple's macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate reveals a prototype of the company's rumored camera-equipped AirPods, alongside the feature known as Siri's Visual Intelligence. The clip, initially found by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris and shared on X, demonstrates the earbuds in action as they assist the user in saving the title of a book to memory.
The video shows the camera hidden within the AirPods observing the book, and a voiceover from the demo informs listeners, "With Visual Intelligence, your world becomes savable."
The cameras are not visible in the footage, but they are positioned in a way that allows them to capture information about the user's surroundings, which is then shared with Siri. Siri can answer questions based on the user's environment and log relevant data. The system also includes alerts to warn users if hair or other obstructions are covering the AirPods.
Apple has placed a message encouraging users to keep the earbuds uncovered to ensure accurate information about their environment. The leaked video is the first glimpse into how AirPods with cameras could function using Visual Intelligence. The video was shared by Aaron on August 18, 2026.
According to the release candidate, the camera-equipped AirPods are expected to be released later in 2026, with the codename B790. Another version, codenamed B798, is reportedly in development for 2027. While the cameras are present in the device, Apple has made it clear that the hardware is not intended for traditional photography.
The cameras serve as visual sensors to help the device interpret and respond to its surroundings, working in tandem with Siri to provide real-time contextual insights. Privacy concerns have arisen regarding the potential risks of recording capabilities, drawing comparisons to Meta's smart glasses. The camera-equipped AirPods are set to be unveiled at Apple's September event, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and a foldable iPhone.
It remains uncertain whether the camera model will replace an existing AirPods variant or be launched as a new, premium product, possibly labeled as AirPods Ultra.
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