According to reports, Apple is in the final stages of launching new AirPods with a built-in camera. These new AirPods also come with AI capabilities, potentially making them Apple’s first wearable devices specifically designed for the age of artificial intelligence. The company has already faced several delays in rolling out its new AI-powered generative Siri, but it doesn’t want to lose space in the wearable AI gadget market to OpenAI and Meta. Both companies are already working on developing wearable devices that utilize similar AI.
Bloomberg said in a report that the new AirPods are currently being tested and already look and function very close to what the final product is expected to be. Apple had previously planned to launch these earphones as early as the first half of this year, possibly alongside the new MacBook Neo. However, the report says the new generative AI version of Siri is not yet ready, forcing the company to postpone the launch.
How does the camera on Apple AirPods work?
The cameras on these earbuds are not intended for taking selfies or recording videos. Instead, they act like the eyes of Siri, Apple’s internal AI assistant, helping you observe and understand what’s going on around you.
Siri reportedly uses low-resolution visual data from the camera to answer users’ questions about their surroundings.
What is the purpose of AirPods with AI?
The concept is expected to work similarly to OpenAI’s ChatGPT’s live visual mode, where users can point their camera at an object and ask questions related to it.
For example, if a user is looking at ingredients in the kitchen, they can ask the earphones what dishes they can make with those items. AI analyzes what the camera sees and provides suggestions.
The earbuds can also remind users of what they’ve seen before and use real-world visual information to improve navigation.
AirPods will also reportedly come with a small LED light that lights up whenever the camera is in use. The light is intended to let others know that the camera is being actively used, but since the earbuds are so small, it’s unclear how noticeable it will actually be.
How are Apple AirPods different from Meta smart glasses?
The upcoming AirPods and Meta smart glasses are both AI-powered wearable gadgets, but the biggest difference lies in their design.
Meta smart glasses are designed to be worn in the eyes, while the upcoming AirPods are earbuds designed to be worn in the ears.
In terms of design, the new earbuds are expected to look similar to the AirPods Pro 3, except for a slightly longer stem to accommodate the camera.
In terms of features, some features are expected to overlap between the two devices, including a built-in AI assistant, live translation capabilities, navigation support, voice-controlled messaging and calling, and AI memory and recall features that may be available on the next AirPods.
However, some meta-smart glasses features, such as first-person photo and video capture, gesture control, and fitness and sports integration, will not be available on the new AirPods.
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