Apple Accelerates Development of Smart Glasses, AI Pendant, and Camera AirPods [Report]

Apple is ramping up work on three new wearable devices as it shifts toward AI-powered hardware. According to a new report from Bloomberg, the company is developing smart glasses, camera-equipped AirPods, and a wearable pendant.



All three devices are being built around Siri and depend on camera systems that provide visual context, allowing the assistant to understand what users are seeing in real time. The move suggests Apple is searching for hardware that can leverage generative AI without the bulk or isolation of a headset. CEO Tim Cook recently told employees the company is working on new "categories of products" enabled by AI. It also follows reports that Apple has scaled back Vision Pro production to focus on lighter, more accessible devices.


The most advanced device in development is a pair of smart glasses, internally code-named N50. Unlike the Vision Pro, the glasses will not include a display. Instead, they rely on speakers, microphones, and dual cameras embedded in the frame. One camera would capture high-resolution photos and video, while a second sensor handles computer vision to interpret surroundings and measure distance between objects.

The goal is for the glasses to function as an all-day AI companion. Users could look at an object and ask Siri what it is, read printed text and add event details directly to their calendar, or receive context-aware reminders while navigating a store. For navigation, Siri could reference real-world landmarks instead of generic turn-by-turn prompts.

Apple reportedly considered partnerships with established eyewear brands but has since shifted to developing its own frames in-house in multiple sizes and colors, using premium materials including acrylic. If development stays on track, production could begin as early as December ahead of a 2027 release. This tracks with recent supply chain leaks that spotted smart glasses on Apple's long-term roadmap.

For users who do not wear glasses, Apple is developing a pendant that acts as the "eyes and ears" of the iPhone. Roughly the size of an AirTag, the device can clip onto clothing or hang from a necklace and would rely heavily on a connected iPhone for processing power. Unlike the failed Humane AI Pin, the Apple version is designed as an iPhone accessory rather than a standalone product. This aligns with earlier rumors of an AirTag-sized AI wearable, though Bloomberg reports that engineers are still debating whether to include a built-in speaker.



The third device could arrive sooner. Apple has been developing AirPods equipped with lower-resolution cameras designed to feed environmental data to AI systems rather than capture traditional photos or video. Bloomberg says these could launch as early as this year.


Powering the new hardware will be a revamped version of Siri. Apple is preparing a chatbot-style assistant for iOS 27, due later this year, as it works to address delays and development challenges with its voice platform. According to the report, Apple will rely on underlying models co-developed with Google to support the system, including Gemini-based technology.

The urgency comes as competitors push aggressively into AI hardware. Meta's smart glasses have gained traction, and OpenAI is developing wearable devices with former Apple design chief Jony Ive. Apple is betting these new form factors will help keep users within its ecosystem as interaction shifts from tapping screens to talking to assistants.

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