Apple is reportedly preparing camera-equipped AirPods, with a leaked macOS video showing the earbuds using Visual Intelligence to understand and interact with objects around the user.
The video, spotted by MacRumors, shows a man holding up a book and asking Siri about it using Visual Intelligence. The system can apparently use the AirPods’ camera to examine objects in front of the wearer and provide information about them.
Here is your first look at AirPods with Cameras in action using Visual Intelligence.
— Aaron (@aaronp613) August 18, 2026
This video file came from macOS 26.7 RC pic.twitter.com/yo7RI4MCeu
The video’s voiceover says users can use Visual Intelligence to save things they see for later.
MacRumors also found software code suggesting the AirPods could alert users if their hair or another object is blocking the camera.
AirPods with a camera?
The rumored AirPods are said to resemble the AirPods Pro 3, but with a longer stem and an LED indicator. Bloomberg previously reported that the LED could show when data is being sent to the cloud.
Apple was reportedly in the late stages of testing the camera-equipped AirPods as early as May.
The idea isn’t entirely new. Devices such as Ray-Ban Meta Glasses, Looki pendant, and Rokid smart glasses already use cameras and AI to understand the user’s surroundings.
Apple could be taking a similar approach with AirPods as it works toward bringing more real-world AI intelligence to its devices before eventually launching its own smart glasses.
Launch could happen with new Siri
Bloomberg previously reported that Apple initially wanted to launch the camera-equipped AirPods in the first half of 2026.
That timeline appears to have changed.
With Apple’s new Siri expected to ship in September, Bloomberg says Apple may now launch the camera-equipped AirPods alongside its upcoming operating system updates.
For now, Apple has not officially announced AirPods with cameras, so the leaked video and reported features remain unofficial. Still, finding what appears to be launch material inside macOS is a pretty strong hint that Apple’s camera-equipped AirPods may be getting closer to reality.