As reports emerge that Apple’s next AirPods could use built-in cameras to power Visual Intelligence features, a new Security.org survey of more than 1,000 Americans finds 72% are worried about being secretly recorded by camera-equipped wearables.
Additionally, 85% support a law requiring smart glasses to display a visual indicator while recording. The survey found:
- 85% support requiring smart glasses to display a visual indicator when recording
- 72% are worried about being secretly recorded in public
- 60% distrust smart-glasses manufacturers to use best practices for video and data privacy
- Only 20% are very confident they could recognize camera-equipped smart glasses being worn in public
- 1 in 4 non-users say they’re likely to buy glasses in the next year
- More than 1 in 10 of adults ages 18 to 29 say the rise of camera-equipped smart glasses has already changed how they behave in public
Among current smart-glasses owners, nearly 1-in-4 (23%) say they never disclose to people nearby when they’re recording.
The findings come as camera-equipped wearables move beyond glasses. Meta recently introduced a new $299 line of AI glasses, while Apple’s leaked AirPods suggest cameras and visual AI could soon become embedded in even less obvious everyday devices.
Apple’s camera-equipped AirPods won’t launch until 2027 despite the demo video MacRumors found earlier this week, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman.
On Monday, MacRumors shared a demo video featuring the camera-equipped AirPods in action. The video was hidden in the macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate, suggesting Apple was preparing for a launch.
Apparently not, according to Gurman. He adds that the “AirPods Pro 4” won’t be able to take photos and still has some issues to be resolved before its release.
Here’s what Gurman had to face in a recent Power On newsletter: For years, Apple has been working on the camera AirPods under the code name B798. This device was initially scheduled for release in 2026 before being postponed until 2027, I’ve reported. But Apple has also been developing another version under the code name B790 (Apple famously creates competing versions of the same product internally).
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