Apple is reportedly developing an AI wearable, a clothing-attachable pin with cameras and microphones, according to a Wednesday report by The Information.
The development surfaces amid increased activity in the AI hardware market. OpenAI Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane stated on Monday in Davos that his company anticipates announcing its first AI hardware device in the second half of this year. This OpenAI device may be earbuds.
Apple’s device is characterized as a “thin, flat, circular disc with an aluminum-and-glass shell.” Engineers intend for it to approximate the size of an AirTag, “only slightly thicker.” The pin incorporates two cameras, one with a standard lens and another with a wide-angle lens, for image and video capture. It also features a physical button, a speaker, and a Fitbit-style charging strip on its reverse side.
Apple is reportedly attempting to accelerate the product’s development to compete with OpenAI. The pin’s potential release date is 2027, with an estimated launch volume of 20 million units.
Consumer demand for such AI devices is currently unestablished. Humane AI, founded by two Apple alumni, previously released an AI pin with integrated microphones and a camera. This product experienced limited market acceptance, leading to the company’s operational cessation and asset sale to HP within two years of its launch.
