As you stroll down the street with your trusty Apple Watch strapped to your wrist, imagine it doing more than just telling you the time or reminding you to stand up; it could actually be observing the world around you. Sounds futuristic, right? According to a recent scoop from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in his Power On Newsletter, Apple is planning to make this a reality. The tech giant is reportedly developing Apple Watches with built-in cameras to enable some exciting AI features, and they aim to roll them out within the next two years.

Cameras in your watch? here’s the deal

Gurman, who’s got a solid track record when it comes to Apple leaks, says these aren’t just any cameras slapped onto the device. For the standard Apple Watch Series, the camera will be cleverly tucked inside the display. Meanwhile, the beefier Apple Watch Ultra will sport its camera on the side, cozied up next to the digital crown and button. It’s a design choice that makes you wonder: how the heck are they going to pull that off without making it look clunky? But if anyone can make it sleek, it’s Apple, right?

The whole point of these cameras isn’t just to snap wrist selfies (though, admittedly, that’d be pretty fun). Instead, they’re there to let your Apple Watch “see the outside world and use AI to deliver relevant information.” Think of it like a tiny, wrist-bound assistant that’s always got its eyes peeled, ready to help you out with whatever’s in front of you. And here’s the kicker: Apple’s reportedly planning to bring the same trick to AirPods, too. Cameras in your earbuds? Wild times ahead.

Visual Intelligence: the AI magic behind it

So, what’s this AI stuff all about? The feature driving this camera craze is called Visual Intelligence, and it’s already a thing on the iPhone 16, which hit the scene last fall. If you’ve got one, you might’ve played around with it—point your camera at an event flyer, and boom, the details get added to your calendar. Spot a restaurant? It’ll dig up the menu or reviews for you. It’s like having a super-smart buddy who’s always ready to Google stuff for you, with no typing required.

Right now, Visual Intelligence leans on AI models from other companies to do its heavy lifting. But Gurman says Apple’s got bigger plans. By 2027—when these camera-toting Apple Watches and AirPods are supposed to land—Apple wants to swap in its own homegrown AI models. That’s a big deal. It means tighter control over the tech, potentially better integration with their ecosystem, and maybe even a performance boost. Plus, it’s classic Apple: they love owning the whole stack, from hardware to software.

Why cameras on a watch make sense (sort of)

At first, the idea of a camera on your Apple Watch might sound a little… extra. I mean, it’s already tracking your steps, your heart rate, and probably judging your sleep habits. Does it really need to see stuff, too? But when you think about it, it’s not that far-fetched. Watches are already prime real estate for quick glances at info—texts, weather, that embarrassing reminder to breathe. Adding a camera could take that up a notch, turning it into a tool that doesn’t just react to what you tell it, but proactively figures out what you need.

Imagine you’re at a museum, and your watch spots a painting, then pulls up a blurb about the artist. Or you’re cooking, and it scans a recipe card to set timers for you. Heck, maybe it could even recognize your dog and remind you it’s time for a walk (not that you’d forget Fido). It’s all speculative for now, but the possibilities are kind of exciting.

What we know—and what we don’t

Gurman’s report lines up with whispers we’ve been hearing about Apple’s AI ambitions. Back in January, The Verge ran a piece citing analysts who said Apple was doubling down on AI to keep pace with rivals like Google and Samsung, who’ve been flexing their own smart-device muscles. And just last month, MacRumors flagged a patent filing that hinted at camera integration in future Apple Watches—though patents don’t always turn into products, so take that with a grain of salt.

Still, there’s plenty we don’t know. How big will these cameras be? Will they jack up the price of an already pricey gadget? And what about battery life—adding a camera and AI processing can’t be easy on a device that already needs charging every night (or close to it). Apple’s mum on the details, as usual, so we’re left piecing together the puzzle from leaks like this.

The bigger picture: Apple’s AI push

This isn’t just about a fancy new watch feature. It’s part of a broader shift for Apple, which has been playing catch-up in the AI game while quietly building its own arsenal. Remember when Siri was the hot new thing? Yeah, that was a while ago. Since then, competitors have rolled out slicker assistants and smarter devices, leaving Apple to figure out how to stay relevant without losing its signature polish.

The iPhone 16’s Visual Intelligence was a step in that direction, and these rumored Apple Watches and AirPods could be the next leap. If Gurman’s timeline holds, 2027 might be a banner year for Apple’s AI rollout. By then, we could see a whole lineup of gadgets that don’t just respond to us—they anticipate us. It’s a gamble, but if it pays off, it could keep Apple at the top of the tech heap.

What’s next?

For now, this is all still in rumor territory. Apple hasn’t confirmed a peep, and they’re not likely to until they’re ready to dazzle us at some keynote with Tim Cook grinning ear to ear. But if Gurman’s right—and he usually is about this stuff—we’re in for a treat in a couple of years. A watch that sees, thinks, and helps out in ways we haven’t even dreamed up yet? Sign me up.