Apple might be preparing to pour a lot more energy into its wearables division over the next few years. A new report from Bloomberg claims that the company is accelerating development on three AI-powered devices: smart glasses, camera-equipped AirPods, and a wearable AI pin or pendant.
Together, these products point to a broader strategy where Apple’s future hardware becomes more context-aware, more ambient, and increasingly built around its evolving voice assistant, Siri.
This push also highlights Apple’s desire to catch up in the AI hardware race, an area already being explored by companies like Meta Platforms and OpenAI, both of which are experimenting with devices that rely less on screens and more on voice, cameras, and real-world awareness.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
Apple's Take on Smart Glasses
The first and arguably the biggest update revealed in the report is Apple’s smart glasses. Per the report, they’re expected to feature two cameras: one high-resolution camera for photos and video, and another dedicated to computer vision that gives Siri a better understanding of the user’s surroundings.
Instead of using a display, the glasses will rely on microphones, speakers, and voice interactions, letting users ask questions, get navigation help, make calls, and control music hands-free.
According to Mark Gurman, author of the report, "Apple has made significant progress in recent months on its glasses, code-named N50, and has recently distributed a broader set of prototypes within its hardware engineering division. The company is targeting the start of production as early as December, ahead of a public release in 2027."
In many ways, Apple is positioning these glasses as a premium alternative to Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, focusing heavily on build quality, camera performance, and in-house frame designs.
A Possible Apple AI Pin
For users who don’t want something on their face, Apple is also reportedly exploring a small AI pin or pendant that clips to clothing or hangs from a necklace. The device would use a lower-resolution camera purely for AI understanding, not photography, and most processing would still happen on the phone.
The idea echoes past attempts like the Humane AI Pin, but Apple appears to be framing its version as an accessory rather than a standalone product, which could make it more practical. Still, it’s early days, and the project could change or be cancelled.
Cameras, But on AirPods
Even though rumours of this died a while back, it looks like the idea was never really off the table for Apple. According to the Bloomberg report, Apple is continuing work on AirPods with built-in cameras, again aimed at giving Siri environmental awareness rather than capturing photos. These could arrive sooner than the other devices, potentially as early as this year, and would extend Apple’s push to turn everyday accessories into AI sensors.
Ultimately, though, the success or even rollout of all these devices and their features hinges on Apple finally delivering a more capable Siri. An AI-powered, chatbot-style version of the assistant has been in the works and has been delayed for quite some time now. Recent reports say we might finally get it when iOS 27 rolls out, co-developed with Google, but given Apple's record, not many people are still holding their breath for it.
Louis Eriakha
