Tim Cook Signals 'Visual Intelligence' as Foundation for Apple's AI Wearables [Gurman]

Tim Cook is increasingly highlighting visual artificial intelligence as a key focus area for Apple's next wave of hardware. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the company is developing wearable devices built around what it calls Visual Intelligence — technology designed to interpret a user's surroundings and respond accordingly.



Apple currently offers Visual Intelligence on the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 17 under the Apple Intelligence umbrella. Gurman notes that much of the feature today relies on external models from OpenAI and Google. However, he reports that Apple is building its own native visual models to power future hardware. That lineup is said to include smart glasses, camera-equipped AirPods, and a wearable pendant designed to provide continuous environmental awareness.


The goal is to create devices that understand context without requiring a display. Early use cases could include identifying food items on a plate or offering more specific navigation instructions based on nearby landmarks rather than fixed distances. The technology may also enable reminders triggered by proximity to certain objects or locations.

Apple's smart glasses are expected to compete directly with offerings from Meta. Gurman reports that Apple is aiming to use higher-end materials and multiple dedicated cameras, in contrast to Meta's single-sensor approach that alternates between computer vision and media capture.

The pendant, meanwhile, is described as a companion device rather than a standalone smartphone replacement. Gurman contrasts Apple's approach with the Humane AI Pin, which struggled with battery life, connectivity, and interface limitations. By tethering an AirTag-sized AI wearable to an iPhone, Apple could offload heavy processing while using the wearable primarily for capturing environmental data.

Cook has previously hinted at major product directions before launch. Ahead of the Apple Watch, he spoke publicly about advances in sensors. Prior to Vision Pro, he consistently promoted augmented reality. In a recent internal meeting, Cook again singled out Visual Intelligence, calling it one of Apple's advantages in artificial intelligence. Gurman suggests that emphasis may signal the company's long-term ambitions in camera-equipped wearables.


For more updates on Apple Intelligence, please download the iClarified app or follow iClarified on X, Facebook, YouTube, and RSS.