Cameras in Airpods and Apple Watch at Apple continued to plan

Apple would like to continue to equip its Airpods with mini cameras to use them for AI functions such as Visual Intelligence. The same should also be intended for the Apple Watch. The reports Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman In his newsletter on Sunday.

First Airpods, then watch

Apple should work on camera-air pods at least for 2024 or even earlier. These should work similarly to Meta's approach to its Ray Ban glasses: there is no screen, but you can get information about the environment via AI via AI. Apple wants to fully rely on its own AI models, so far the company uses Google and Openai technology. It fits that hardware expert Mike Rockwell is said to have taken over the Siri department-with his experience, the project could be accelerated.

According to Gurman, it is also new that later variants of the Apple Watch could also receive a camera for Visual Intelligence. During the regular computer clock, installation on the display (similar to a selfie camera in a smartphone) is supposed to be provided, so that you can then keep it in the direction of an object to start to start AI inquiries. With an Apple Watch Ultra with more space, the camera could land near the digital crown and the side button, as there is enough space.

No communication by camera

Computer watches with a camera are not a new invention. So the very first Samsung smartwatch, the Galaxy Gear, had one Camera built into the bracelet. For the Apple Watch, too, such ideas were already available as additional accessories and in the form of an (previously not implemented) Apple patent. However, it was always about photography and recording videos – and communication. However, the now planned cameras serve to recording the surrounding area.

According to Gurman, Apple does not plan to support Facetime with the Apple Watch camera. This is an uncomfortable attitude for the user anyway. In addition, the technical hurdles for porting a FaceTime app to Watchos are high. It is still unclear when the first AirPods and computer watches from Apple will appear with camera. A third generation could appear this year with the Airpods Pro – but this will probably still remain cameralos.