Apple appears to have leaked its camera-equipped AirPods

“Apple inadvertently revealed a prototype of camera‑enabled AirPods in a macOS Tahoe 26.7 release‑candidate video, showing the earbuds feeding low‑resolution visuals to Siri’s new Visual Intelligence feature. The demo demonstrates a user asking Siri to remember a book, with the assistant responding that the device can “save” what you see. While the cameras are hidden and the design resembles current AirPods Pro with a thicker stem, privacy concerns arise because the earbuds act as a wearable surveillance tool, though Apple may include an activity indicator. The leak suggests an official launch could coincide with the upcoming iPhone 18 event, and Apple has reportedly codenamed the model B790, distinct from a later B798 variant slated for 2027. Expert Analysis: Introducing camera‑enabled AirPods could redefine the wearables market by merging audio and visual AI assistance, prompting new privacy regulations and consumer expectations. If Apple rolls out the feature this year, competitors will scramble to add similar capabilities, potentially reshaping the US smart‑device ecosystem and driving demand for privacy‑focused accessories.”