Apple’s AirPods with cameras for AI are apparently close to production

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple's long-rumored AirPods with integrated cameras have progressed to the design validation test (DVT) stage, where testers are 'actively using' prototypes. This milestone places the product one step away from production validation testing, suggesting a release later this year. The cameras are 'not designed to take photos or video' but instead capture low-resolution visual information that users can query via Siri—for example, asking the assistant what to cook based on ingredients in front of them or receiving turn-by-turn navigation cues.

The new AirPods will reportedly resemble the AirPods Pro 3 but feature longer stems to accommodate the camera modules and a small LED light that illuminates when visual data is being processed in the cloud. Apple initially aimed for a launch in the first half of 2026, but delays in its upgraded Siri pushed the timeline. Gurman notes that the improved Siri is now 'on track' for a September release, suggesting the AirPods could debut alongside that update. (The AirPods Pro 3 launched in September 2025.)

This move puts Apple in direct competition with Meta's smart glasses and OpenAI's reported phone project. Apple is also developing standalone smart glasses and an AI pendant, potentially arriving as early as 2027, signaling a broader push into AI-powered wearables beyond earbuds.