Apple "ambitiously" turns AirPods into AI "magic eyes". AirPods are not just headphones, but Apple's "golden goose". Sales of $18 billion in 2023 have proven that. But Apple wants more than that with plans to turn AirPods into a health monitoring device, and now, maybe even an... "Magic eye" integrated with artificial intelligence (AI).
According to an exclusive report from Bloomberg, Apple is secretly working on integrating a camera into AirPods. The goal is to turn the headphones into "sensors" that collect data about the surrounding environment, providing "raw material" for AI features.
It's not clear which version of AirPods (AirPods, AirPods Pro, or even AirPods Max) will have a camera, but the idea is already causing a stir. Imagine:
- AirPods "see" objects, recognize faces, and provide information to you.
- Siri is "smarter" thanks to "eyes", understanding your context and actions better.
This is not the first time Apple has shown its AI ambitions. Last year, the company introduced Apple Intelligence with the iPhone 16, but this grand plan has encountered obstacles.
Recently, Apple admitted that upgrading Siri into a real AI assistant has been delayed. The revamped Siri is expected to debut later this year, possibly at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.
While the idea of a camera on AirPods is intriguing, it also raises privacy concerns. Can Apple ensure that the image data it collects won’t be misused? This is a big question that Apple needs to answer properly before turning this idea into reality.