Bloomberg: AirPods Pro with AI cameras soon ready for production – and an AirTag-like AI badge | News

There have been reports about the future of the AirPods Pro for months. Accordingly, Apple is pursuing the path of integrating additional sensors; we were talking about cameras to record the environment. Mind you, these are not photo/film modules, but rather sensors for visual information that Siri is supposed to work with (“visual intelligence”). According to Bloomberg, the earphones are now in an advanced testing stage and the design and functionality are almost final.

Given the promising results in previous design validation tests, Apple could soon begin mass production. However, the positioning in the AirPods range remains unclear – i.e. whether the AirPods will be “Pro” or whether Apple will also use the “Ultra” suffix here. In view of the functionally significant expansion, the introduction of an Ultra model series does not sound unlikely.

AI Badge: Yet another way to go
If you put the AirPods “Ultra” under the keyword “Siri gets eyes!” then the second part of the Bloomberg report also fits in well. Mark Gurman repeats the statements about the planned AI pin, which is not intended to function as an independent device but as an iPhone accessory. This can also record environmental information, is probably worn on the chest or as a necklace, communicates continuously with the iPhone and with the user on demand – but unlike the failed Humane AI Pin, it does not have a projector or any other type of display.

However, the level of development is behind the AirPods with cameras, and Bloomberg and other sources believe that a market launch this year is largely ruled out. In addition, Apple has not yet decided internally what exact range of functions the device should have. Even the question of an integrated loudspeaker is currently unresolved, says Gurman. But Apple is clearly looking for ways in which Siri and Visual Intelligence can find their way into other products – especially since high-ranking Apple managers have already stated several times that they see this as one of the most important AI functions.