Apple Is Building Three AI Wearables, And Development Is Speeding Up

AI rendering / ChatGPT

If you’ve been watching the wearable tech space, you already know things are heating up fast. Meta has made serious moves with their smart glasses, Snap is gearing up to release its own specs, and now Apple is reportedly throwing everything it has into the race.

According to a new report from Bloomberg, Apple is accelerating development on not one, but three new AI-powered wearables, and they all tie back to Siri.

Apple’s AI Smart Glasses Are Further Along Than You Think

The headline product here is a pair of smart glasses, internally code-named N50. These aren’t your average frames. Rather than featuring a display, the smart glasses will rely on speakers, microphones, and cameras to deliver their experience. Apple’s current prototypes include two camera lenses: one for high-resolution photos and videos, and a second for “computer vision” that will “give the device environmental context.” Think of it like Visual Intelligence on your iPhone but built right into your glasses.

That environmental awareness opens the door to some genuinely useful functionality, more precise navigation in Apple Maps, Reminders integration, and real-time contextual awareness. As Bloomberg puts it, “The goal is for the glasses to function as an all-day AI companion, capable of understanding what a user is seeing and doing in real time.”

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman adds some detail on the hardware evolution, noting that “early prototypes of the glasses connect via a cable to a standalone battery pack and an iPhone, but newer versions have the components embedded in the frame. The design uses high-end materials, including acrylic elements intended to give the glasses a premium feel. Apple is already discussing launching the device in additional styles over time.”

Apple is said to have explored partnerships with outside companies for the frame design but ultimately decided to keep everything in-house. Expect a range of sizes and colors when these eventually hit shelves. According to the report, Apple has made “significant progress” in recent months, and the company is already “targeting the start of production as early as December, ahead of a public release in 2027.”

The AI Pendant: An “Eyes and Ears” Device for Your iPhone

Perhaps the most intriguing product in the pipeline is Apple’s AI pendant. First reported by The Information last month, the device is described as a “thin, flat, circular disc with an aluminum-and-glass shell” about the size of an AirTag, equipped with two cameras, a speaker, and three microphones.

Bloomberg’s new report adds important context, noting the device is “reminiscent of the failed Humane AI pin” — but with some key differences. There’s no display, no projector, and unlike the Humane AI Pin’s attempt to work as a standalone gadget, Apple’s version will “rely heavily on an iPhone for processing.” Some Apple employees have taken to calling it the “eyes and ears” of the phone, which pretty much sums up the concept.

The pendant is designed to be worn clipped to your clothing or as a necklace, functioning as an always-on camera and microphone feeding into Siri. One feature still being debated internally is whether to include a speaker; adding one would let users have back-and-forth conversations with the device without digging out their phone or reaching for AirPods.

Gurman does caution that the product “remains early-stage and could still be canceled,” but if Apple stays the course, it could launch as early as next year.

Camera-Equipped AirPods Could Drop Even Sooner

Rounding out the trio is an updated version of AirPods with built-in cameras and new AI capabilities. These could potentially launch as early as this year, making them the first of the three products to hit the market.

While details on the AirPods are thinner than the glasses and pendant, Bloomberg notes that all three products are being built with Siri as the central pillar of the experience and are designed to connect to the iPhone. The glasses are described as “more upscale and feature-rich” compared to the AirPods and the pendant, suggesting Apple sees them as the premium offering in this new wearable lineup.

Apple Is Playing Catch-Up, But It’s Moving Fast

Apple isn’t first to this space. Meta has arguably been the most successful company in smart glasses to date, and Snap is reportedly planning to release its own “Specs” later this year. But Apple’s focus on deep iPhone integration and Siri-powered AI could give it a serious edge once these products arrive.. assuming of course the next-generation Siri ever gets here.

If even one of these three devices lands the way Apple is hoping, the way we interact with our phones on a daily basis could look very different in the next couple of years.