There were rumours that Apple is working on AirPods with built-in cameras. Even though a recent rumour suggested that the project had been scrapped, a newly surfaced video actually shows these camera-toting earbuds in action.
The demo clip was spotted by MacRumors inside the latest macOS 26.7 release candidate. In the short video, someone picks up a book and asks a question, prompting a voiceover to explain that Visual Intelligence lets you save things from the world around you just by asking.
The main idea behind the tech is to let the assistant analyse your surroundings through the lenses and feed you helpful details, though it apparently will not be taking proper photos.
Apple might unveil these new AirPods alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra or Fold lineup in September 2026.