I don't have any idea why anyone would think that Airpods (or any earbuds, headphones, etc.,) would cause tinnitus. All that I can think of is that professor of audiology claiming that earbuds would damage your hearing because you have all of that sound pressure right next to your tympanum.
I pointed out that nobody would have their earbuds produce as much sound pressure as a speaker several feet away or across the room, but nobody ever tells me anything like:
People just say:
...and change the subject.