Overview
- The macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate contained a hidden demo video discovered Tuesday that shows AirPods apparently using outward-facing sensors to identify a book and prompt Siri to “save” what the wearer sees.
- Code in the same build references a product codename B790 and setup/debug strings that point to camera functionality and a Visual Intelligence setup flow for earbuds.
- The demo frames the sensors as inputs for Siri/Visual Intelligence rather than a traditional camera, sending low-resolution visual data for identification and recall instead of full photo or video capture.
- Reports differ on timing: some outlets suggested an unveiling at Apple’s September iPhone event while Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman and others say development and supply‑chain issues could push a broader launch into 2027.
- The leak revived sharp privacy questions because the earbuds appear inconspicuous, and the assets show Apple prototypes for safety features such as alerts for obstructed sensors and possible hardware indicators for activity.