Apple Accelerates Work on Three AI Wearables as Race Against Meta and OpenAI Intensifies

Inside Apple Park earlier this month, Tim Cook stood before his hardware engineering teams and delivered a message that carried more weight than the usual corporate pep talk. The company, he said, was "extremely excited" about entirely new product categories — a trio of AI-powered wearables that represent Cupertino's most ambitious hardware pivot since the Apple Watch debuted over a decade ago Apple is reportedly cooking up a trio of AI wearablestechcrunch.com·SecondaryLate last month, The Information reported that Apple was developing an AI wearable—an AirTag-sized pendant with cameras that could be pinned to a user’s shirt. Now, Bloomberg writes that the development of such a device—along with two other AI-powered items—is accelerating, as Apple looks to stay competitive with other tech giants who are racing to release similar products..

The details, first reported by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman on Tuesday, sketch out a three-pronged strategy: smart glasses code-named N50 that would compete directly with Meta's Ray-Ban partnership, an AirTag-sized pendant that functions as an always-on camera and microphone for Siri, and a new generation of AirPods fitted with low-resolution cameras capable of interpreting a wearer's surroundings Apple is reportedly cooking up a trio of AI wearablestechcrunch.com·SecondaryLate last month, The Information reported that Apple was developing an AI wearable—an AirTag-sized pendant with cameras that could be pinned to a user’s shirt. Now, Bloomberg writes that the development of such a device—along with two other AI-powered items—is accelerating, as Apple looks to stay competitive with other tech giants who are racing to release similar products.. All three devices are designed to connect to the iPhone, effectively turning Apple's flagship phone into the brain of a wearable AI ecosystem.

The smart glasses are the most developed of the three projects, with Apple's hardware team already working with physical prototypes . Unlike Meta's Ray-Ban glasses, Apple's version will not include a built-in display — at least not in the first generation. Instead, the glasses rely on a voice-based interface powered by an upgraded version of Siri, allowing users to make phone calls, listen to music, take photos, and ask contextual questions about their environment . A high-resolution camera will handle photography and video, while a second lens — functionally similar to the LiDAR sensor already found on iPhones — will feed visual data to Apple's AI models Apple is reportedly cooking up a trio of AI wearablestechcrunch.com·SecondaryLate last month, The Information reported that Apple was developing an AI wearable—an AirTag-sized pendant with cameras that could be pinned to a user’s shirt. Now, Bloomberg writes that the development of such a device—along with two other AI-powered items—is accelerating, as Apple looks to stay competitive with other tech giants who are racing to release similar products..

Apple is targeting the start of production as early as December 2026, with a public launch planned for 2027 . That timeline would put the glasses roughly two years behind Meta's current-generation Ray-Ban smart glasses, which have already sold millions of units and established a dominant position in the nascent category. Snap, too, plans to release its own "Specs" smart glasses later this year, adding further pressure on Apple's timeline Apple is reportedly cooking up a trio of AI wearablestechcrunch.com·SecondaryLate last month, The Information reported that Apple was developing an AI wearable—an AirTag-sized pendant with cameras that could be pinned to a user’s shirt. Now, Bloomberg writes that the development of such a device—along with two other AI-powered items—is accelerating, as Apple looks to stay competitive with other tech giants who are racing to release similar products..

One critical differentiator Apple is betting on is build quality. The company tested embedding its hardware into off-the-shelf frames and even explored partnerships with established eyewear brands, but ultimately decided to design and manufacture its own frames in-house . Prototypes use high-end materials including acrylic elements intended to deliver what internal documents describe as a "premium feel." The glasses will ship in multiple sizes and colors, with additional styles planned over time . Early prototypes required a cable connecting to a battery pack and an iPhone, but newer versions have all components embedded directly in the frame Apple is reportedly cooking up a trio of AI wearablestechcrunch.com·SecondaryLate last month, The Information reported that Apple was developing an AI wearable—an AirTag-sized pendant with cameras that could be pinned to a user’s shirt. Now, Bloomberg writes that the development of such a device—along with two other AI-powered items—is accelerating, as Apple looks to stay competitive with other tech giants who are racing to release similar products..

The AI pendant is a more unconventional bet — and a more uncertain one. Roughly the size of an AirTag, the device can be clipped to a shirt or bag, or threaded onto a necklace . It houses an always-on, low-resolution camera and a microphone, essentially serving as what some Apple employees internally describe as the "eyes and ears" of the iPhone . The pendant contains a dedicated chip similar to those found in AirPods, but the heavy computational lifting — including AI inference — is handled by the connected iPhone Apple is reportedly cooking up a trio of AI wearablestechcrunch.com·SecondaryLate last month, The Information reported that Apple was developing an AI wearable—an AirTag-sized pendant with cameras that could be pinned to a user’s shirt. Now, Bloomberg writes that the development of such a device—along with two other AI-powered items—is accelerating, as Apple looks to stay competitive with other tech giants who are racing to release similar products..

The pendant concept reportedly predates Apple's work on smart glasses and was championed within the Industrial Design Team, with engineering input from the Vision Products Group that built the Vision Pro headset . A key unresolved question is whether the device will include a speaker for two-way Siri conversations, or whether users will need AirPods or the iPhone itself for audio feedback . The project remains in its early stages and could still be canceled, though Apple is tentatively eyeing a 2027 launch if development stays on track Apple is reportedly cooking up a trio of AI wearablestechcrunch.com·SecondaryLate last month, The Information reported that Apple was developing an AI wearable—an AirTag-sized pendant with cameras that could be pinned to a user’s shirt. Now, Bloomberg writes that the development of such a device—along with two other AI-powered items—is accelerating, as Apple looks to stay competitive with other tech giants who are racing to release similar products..

The third product — camera-equipped AirPods — is the closest to market. Reports of Apple's work on this concept have circulated for years, and Gurman now indicates that the upgraded earbuds could arrive as early as later in 2026 . Like the pendant, the AirPods would feature low-resolution cameras designed to provide visual context to Siri rather than capture photos or video . The cameras would allow wearers to ask questions about what they're looking at — identifying a building, reading a restaurant menu, or getting walking directions overlaid with contextual information Apple is reportedly cooking up a trio of AI wearablestechcrunch.com·SecondaryLate last month, The Information reported that Apple was developing an AI wearable—an AirTag-sized pendant with cameras that could be pinned to a user’s shirt. Now, Bloomberg writes that the development of such a device—along with two other AI-powered items—is accelerating, as Apple looks to stay competitive with other tech giants who are racing to release similar products..

The broader strategic picture is difficult to miss. Apple has watched from the sidelines as Meta invested billions in its Reality Labs division and as OpenAI reportedly began exploring its own consumer hardware. The Humane AI Pin, which launched in 2024 to poor reviews and disappointing sales, demonstrated both the appetite for and the difficulty of building a standalone AI wearable Apple is reportedly planning to launch AI-powered glasses, a pendant, and AirPodstheverge.com·SecondaryThe three devices could come with cameras and connect to the iPhone, allowing Siri to perform actions based on the wearer’s surroundings. The three devices could come with cameras and connect to the iPhone, allowing Siri to perform actions based on the wearer’s surroundings. Apple is pushing ahead with plans to launch its first pair of smart glasses, along with an AI-powered pendant and camera-equipped AirPods, according to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.. Apple's approach is notably different: none of the three devices are designed to replace the iPhone. Instead, they extend it, turning the phone into a processing hub for ambient AI that sees and hears through peripherals the user wears throughout the day.

Skeptics have reason for caution. Apple's track record with new product categories is mixed — the Apple Watch took several generations to find its footing, and the Vision Pro headset, launched in early 2024, has struggled to move beyond a niche audience despite strong critical reception. The AI pendant in particular invites comparisons to the Humane AI Pin, whose promise of a screenless, voice-first future collided with the reality of unreliable AI responses and poor battery life Apple is reportedly planning to launch AI-powered glasses, a pendant, and AirPodstheverge.com·SecondaryThe three devices could come with cameras and connect to the iPhone, allowing Siri to perform actions based on the wearer’s surroundings. The three devices could come with cameras and connect to the iPhone, allowing Siri to perform actions based on the wearer’s surroundings. Apple is pushing ahead with plans to launch its first pair of smart glasses, along with an AI-powered pendant and camera-equipped AirPods, according to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman..

Privacy advocates are also likely to raise concerns. An always-on camera worn as a pendant or embedded in glasses raises questions that go well beyond Apple's usual data-collection debates. Meta faced significant backlash when its Ray-Ban glasses launched with cameras, prompting the company to add a visible LED indicator to signal when recording was active. Apple has not yet disclosed what privacy safeguards, if any, it plans to build into these devices Apple is reportedly cooking up a trio of AI wearablestechcrunch.com·SecondaryLate last month, The Information reported that Apple was developing an AI wearable—an AirTag-sized pendant with cameras that could be pinned to a user’s shirt. Now, Bloomberg writes that the development of such a device—along with two other AI-powered items—is accelerating, as Apple looks to stay competitive with other tech giants who are racing to release similar products..

From a competitive standpoint, the timing is revealing. Google's partnership with Samsung on the forthcoming Project Moohan mixed-reality headset, Meta's continued iteration on its Ray-Ban line, and persistent rumors of an Amazon-backed AI wearable all point to a hardware industry that increasingly views on-body AI as the next major computing platform. Apple's willingness to pursue three separate form factors simultaneously — glasses, pendant, and earbuds — suggests the company has not yet determined which will resonate most with consumers and is hedging its bets accordingly Apple is reportedly cooking up a trio of AI wearablestechcrunch.com·SecondaryLate last month, The Information reported that Apple was developing an AI wearable—an AirTag-sized pendant with cameras that could be pinned to a user’s shirt. Now, Bloomberg writes that the development of such a device—along with two other AI-powered items—is accelerating, as Apple looks to stay competitive with other tech giants who are racing to release similar products..

The financial implications are substantial. Apple's Services division has been the primary growth engine in recent years, but hardware remains the company's identity. A successful wearable AI platform could open new revenue streams in health monitoring, enterprise applications, and augmented reality — categories where Apple has made incremental progress through the Apple Watch and AirPods but has yet to deliver a transformative product. Whether Cupertino can execute on this ambitious three-device strategy while maintaining the build quality and user experience that justify its premium pricing remains the central question heading into 2027 Apple is reportedly cooking up a trio of AI wearablestechcrunch.com·SecondaryLate last month, The Information reported that Apple was developing an AI wearable—an AirTag-sized pendant with cameras that could be pinned to a user’s shirt. Now, Bloomberg writes that the development of such a device—along with two other AI-powered items—is accelerating, as Apple looks to stay competitive with other tech giants who are racing to release similar products..