Apple's Next Move: A Silent Wave of AI Wearables Takes Shape

Apple is quietly assembling a new product category. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, the company is developing three distinct AI-powered wearables, with releases potentially beginning this year and extending into 2027. This strategy moves beyond the phone, embedding intelligence into accessories designed to be worn throughout the day.

The centerpiece appears to be a pair of camera-equipped smart glasses, similar in form to Meta’s Ray-Bans. Without a display, they would rely on advanced audio and camera systems. Two sensors are planned: one for photos and video, another for environmental awareness. Features could include translation, audio transcription, and music playback, effectively functioning as eyewear-shaped AirPods. An announcement could come as early as this year, following Apple’s pattern of previewing future hardware.

First to market may be updated AirPods. A new Pro model is expected to incorporate infrared cameras, not for photography, but for gesture control. This technology, akin to the Vision Pro’s hand tracking, would allow users to manage audio or workouts with a wave of the hand, even in darkness. It also serves as a potential testbed for gestures intended for the glasses.

The third, and least certain, device is an AI pin. This camera-and-microphone-enabled accessory would focus on assistive functions, acting more as an iPhone companion than a standalone device like the Humane AI Pin. Its fate remains unclear, with Gurman noting it may not materialize.

The common thread is a display-free, ambient approach. Apple’s recent partnership with Google to integrate the Gemini AI model suggests a push for sophisticated, camera-based contextual awareness across these devices. While Google prepares its own smart glasses, Apple’s play leverages its design prowess and retail network for fitting eyewear.

Official details likely await Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference in June. If the plan holds, our interaction with technology is set to become quieter, more personal, and woven directly into what we wear.

Source: CNET