- Apple would still work on cameras in AirPods
- The visual intelligence of iOS 18 is at the heart of Apple’s plans
- The features are always “generations”
We have known the “what” for some time – Apple has experienced cameras in its airpods – and now we may know the “why”. A new report highlights Apple’s plans for future AirPods, and if technology can do what it promises to do, it could be a really important personal security characteristic.
There is a significant warning, however: the features are “still at least generations to hit the market”.
The report comes from the good connected Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, who says that “Apple’s ultimate plan for visual intelligence goes far beyond the iPhone”. And Airpods is part of this plan.
According to Gurman, visual intelligence – recognizing the world around you and providing useful information or assistance – is considered a big problem within Apple, and plans to put cameras in Apple Watch and Apple Watch Ultra. As with AirPods, “this would help the device to see the outside world and use AI to provide relevant information”.
How Airpods will work with visual intelligence
Visual intelligence has been introduced in iOS 18 for the iPhone 16, and it allows you to point the camera on something and learn more: the type of plant, the dog breed (as in the image at the top of this article), the opening hours of the coffee you have just found, etc.
Visual intelligence can also translate the text, and perhaps one day it will be able to help people like me who have a shocking memory for names and faces.
The big problem of visual intelligence, however, is that you have to bring out your phone to do so. And there are circumstances where you will not want to do this. I remember when Apple brought cards to the Apple Watch: by allowing to use cards without broadcasting “I am not from here and I am desperately lost. I also have a very expensive phone” for all the bad guys in the neighborhood, it was an important personal security function.
It could also be. If Apple makes it possible to invoke visual intelligence with a head point and a pinch of the stems, this would allow you to obtain important information – such as a translation of a sign of management in another country – without waving your phone.
We are far from having these features – do not expect them in Airpod Pro 3, which will probably arrive later in 2025. But I am excited by perspective: imagine Apple’s intelligence, but good.
