Generative AI features are not the only additions arriving to compatible models that will come under Apple’s artificial intelligence umbrella. For the longest time, we have gazed at multiple patents talking about various cameras present on an Apple Watch, but we always dismissed these upgrades as something that would only exist on paper until now. According to the latest report, the California-based giant actually has some use for bringing multiple cameras to its smartwatches, and it is related to the company’s AI push, of which Apple has fallen behind due to a series of major setbacks.
Future Apple Watch models equipped with cameras would be able to leverage Visual Intelligence to interact with real-life objects
The latest ‘Power On’ newsletter from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman discusses the addition of cameras in future Apple Watch models that will deliver various AI-related functions. However, 9to5Mac does not mention if any of these sensors will be used for any purpose other than AI, which could be a missed opportunity.
Even though iPhones will be the primary device for capturing images or videos, an Apple Watch could serve some kind of convenience, as the same operation can be carried out without taking the device out of your pocket. The most obvious concern is whether these wearables could deliver the same image quality, given their compact size, the answer is likely no.
“Apple’s ultimate plan for Visual Intelligence goes far beyond the iPhone. The company wants to put the feature at the core of future devices, including the camera-equipped AirPods that I’ve been writing about for several months. Along the way, Apple also wants to shift Visual Intelligence toward its own AI models, rather than those from OpenAI and Google.”
Both the Apple Watch and Apple Watch Ultra models are reportedly being considered with camera upgrades, with the regular version sporting a sensor that could be incorporated under the display. The size of the Apple Watch Ultra could give it the ability to feature a unit on the side next to the Digital Crown. As for the launch, we could see these additions arrive as early as 2027, which is the same year that a new pair of AirPods ships with cameras too. However, all of this depends on whether Apple’s concerned teams and leadership can push through with this ambitious task.
Just recently, the failure to bring Apple Intelligence features as promised has landed the company in a lawsuit that seeks to attain class-action status, with the revamped version of Siri delayed to 2026. There has also been a shake-up in Apple’s hierarchy, with AI head John Giannandrea getting replaced by Mike Rockwell, the man who spearheaded the ludicrously expensive Apple Vision Pro.
