Apple's AI-powered AirPods Pro with camera in advanced testing stage: Report

The upcoming AirPods Pro earbuds is expected to retain most of the design elements of the current model AirPods Pro 3, but they will have a longer stem to accommodate the camera.

For the past couple of years, we have been hearing about Apple working on next-generation AirPods Pro with an advanced generative Artificial Intelligence-powered Siri digital assistant.

Now, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has revealed new details of the much-awaited AirPods Pro, which is said to come with a built-in smart camera. It has apparently entered the late stage of development.

Though the new AirPods Pro retain most of the design elements of the current model AirPods Pro 3, they will have a longer stem to accommodate the camera.

Unlike the photography hardware we see on the smart glasses and phones, the camera on the new AirPods Pro will not support video calling. It will be more like eyes with low vision, just good enough to capture the surrounding environment around the owner to offer contextually correct responses.

For instance, the user, while looking at the menu in a foreign language, he/she can ask the AirPods to get live translation. Also, if they are looking at some landmark, the user can just ask Siri to give details of the structure or the object. It will be similar to the Visual Intelligence we have on iPhone and other supported Apple devices. But with Google Gemini-powered Siri, it is expected to be much better.

And, it is also said to feature a user privacy-centric LED light feature. Like on iPhone, it will light up to indicate to the person standing in front of the owner that the camera in the AirPods Pro is active and recording.

The new AirPods Pro is said to be in the design validation testing (DVT) phase and is currently being tested within a closed group of the engineering team in the office campus. If it goes well, it will enter product validation testing(PVT), an early mass production phase.

John Ternus, who is slated to take over as CEO of Apple from Tim Cook on September 1, has promised that the company has at least 10 new AI-centric innovative devices that are expected to disrupt the market, like the iPhone, iPad, and the Watch did in their respective segments.

If things go as planned, Apple is expected to launch the AirPods Pro with a smart camera by the end of 2026 or early 2027. Besides AirPods Pro with a camera, Apple is working on AI smart glasses and an AI pendant with a camera, which can be pinned to the top/shirt or worn around the neck.

Before the new smart wearable make their debut, Apple is expected to bring its first-ever foldable iPhone along with iPhone 18 Pro models later this year in September and possibly showcase the all-new Gemini-powered Siri assistant.

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