Apple leaks camera-equipped AirPods in macOS software update
Details of Apple’s next-generation audio hardware appeared in a release candidate for macOS Tahoe, confirming the existence of a camera-enabled device designed to feed data to Siri.
Apple may have inadvertently disclosed details of its upcoming camera-equipped AirPods within a video embedded in the macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate. The leak, first identified by MacRumors and X user @aaronp613, demonstrates the hardware’s integration with Siri’s new 'Visual Intelligence' function, which processes low-resolution imagery to assist users with visual tasks.
The footage shows a user wearing the new earbuds and asking Siri to remember a book they are currently checking out. In response, the assistant utilises the Visual Intelligence feature, stating that the user’s world becomes "saveable" and prompting them to ask the assistant to save items for later. The devices, identified by the codename B790 in the software references, feature a thicker stem compared to current AirPods Pro models, although the cameras themselves are not visibly distinct in the demonstration.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman originally reported the existence of these camera-equipped AirPods in May. The new B790 models appear distinct from another camera-equipped variant, codenamed B798, which is expected to arrive in 2027. The presence of the demo video in the macOS update suggests the hardware is nearing completion, with an official announcement likely scheduled for Apple’s iPhone 18 event next month.
Privacy concerns have been raised regarding the surveillance capabilities of wearable devices equipped with cameras. While the leaked imagery is low-resolution, the technology still represents a significant shift in personal data collection. Reports indicate that an indicator light for active recording is planned for the final product, a measure intended to address user privacy expectations.
It remains unclear whether the devices shown in the macOS demo represent the final consumer product or a prototype, and exact specifications for the Visual Intelligence function beyond the book identification demo are not yet confirmed. The leak highlights Apple’s ongoing efforts to integrate artificial intelligence into its ecosystem, following a history of delays in expanding Siri’s capabilities relative to competitors.
