Apple has reached the late stages of development of new AirPods with built-in cameras.
Apple has reached the late stages of development of new AirPods with built-in cameras.
As Bloomberg insider Mark Gurman writes, such headphones should be the first wearable device designed for the «era of artificial intelligence.»
According to specialists familiar with the matter, the project has entered its final phase, and the prototypes have almost final design and functionality.
«Headphones that use cameras to see the space around the user and provide information about it are undergoing extensive testing,» Gurman refers to his interlocutors.
The cameras will act as eyes for Siri’s digital assistant, but they’re not designed to take photos or videos. These components, located in both the right and left earcups, allow the device to capture low-resolution visual information.
Apple previously planned for the headphones to go on sale in the first half of this year, but the launch was postponed due to delays in the release of an updated version of Siri.
At the same time, sources say that while the hardware is almost ready, concerns about certain AI elements could further delay the product launch.
Apple is also looking to address privacy concerns from people who don’t want their gadgets recording them, so the company built a small LED indicator into the headphones that turns on when visual data is being transmitted to the cloud.
At the same time, the new AI AirPods have been in development for about four years and will become part of a whole wave of products with artificial intelligence, and the company expects high demand for such a gadget.
As dev.ua wrote, a group of Apple engineers working on Siri will be sent to a «multi-week bootcamp to learn how to program with AI.»
Meanwhile, Apple has held private talks with Intel and Samsung about supplying chips for its gadgets.
