> What do we think?

If it would do 360 degrees counter surveillance for me I'd wear them all the time. Nice to have a pair of eyes in the back of my head so I can be aware of which officer is stalking me this time. Maybe find out which coffee to buy 'em. 

But... Apple's closed ecosystem doesn't really help me with this; I'd have to break the DMCA to make it work and I don't want the tail to have a reason to chase me. I guess that for the time being I'll be sticking with the piborg; it is subtle and obscure in its own way.

![](https://m.stacker.news/141100)
[source](https://projects-raspberry.com/piglass/)

optimism

LED only works if it's hardware-tied and visible from every angle. Software indicators get disabled or ignored in practice.

F*cking insane. People will be filmed en masse without consent.

b167419a

The LED light will be so small that nobody will pay any attention and then they're being mapped out by AI.

I haven't seen anyone I've met wearing Meta Ray-Bans, but apparently they have a noticeable LED light blinking at the front when it's recording.

If this goes through, from September 2026 on I will avoid, shun and ostracize everyone wearing AirPods. 

I hope they're gonna be the new stinky kid in class that everyone avoids!

teemupleb

BlokchainB

The LED privacy light is the new incognito mode, a false sense of security while they watch everything.

joyfam

LOL
A new pandora box of privacy is about to explode.

MANI

Apple is apparently in late stage testing for AirPods with built-in 

The cameras are 'not for photos', apparently... The official line is they help Siri "see" your environment so it can answer questions about what's in front of you or nudge you with context-aware reminders (what does that even mean?).

Something that is still unclear is whether these are infrared or full colour sensors. Infrared makes sense for the stated use case of depth mapping. Full colour is a different thing entirely, an always-on microphone is a known variable people have made their peace with to a degree, but time will tell if the cameras are full-colour or not. Either way this feels creepy and yet another affront to our human right to privacy.

Apple will point to the LED indicator as a privacy feature, but is that good enough? Not for me.

privacy

[https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidphelan/2026/05/08/airpods-with-cameras-coming-soon-could-be-apples-first-ai-accessory-report-says/](https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidphelan/2026/05/08/airpods-with-cameras-coming-soon-could-be-apples-first-ai-accessory-report-says/)

# Apple is apparently in late stage testing for AirPods with built-in ***cameras.***

The cameras are 'not for photos', apparently... The official line is they help Siri "see" your environment so it can answer questions about what's in front of you or nudge you with context-aware reminders (what does that even mean?).

Something that is still unclear is whether these are infrared or full colour sensors. Infrared makes sense for the stated use case of depth mapping. Full colour is a different thing entirely, an always-on microphone is a known variable people have made their peace with to a degree, but time will tell if the cameras are full-colour or not. Either way this feels creepy and yet another affront to our human right to privacy.

Apple will point to the LED indicator as a privacy feature, but is that good enough? Not for me.

What do we think?

Apple is apparently in late stage testing for AirPods with built-in cameras.Apple is apparently in late stage testing for AirPods with built-in cameras.