Apple Goes All-In on AI Wearables With Smart Glasses, Pendant and Camera AirPods

Apple's Triple Threat in AI Wearables

Apple is ramping up development of three distinct AI-powered wearable devices, marking its most ambitious push into ambient computing hardware to date. According to a Bloomberg report, the company is accelerating work on smart glasses, a wearable AI pendant, and camera-equipped AirPods, all designed to work with a significantly upgraded version of Siri.

Smart Glasses Leading the Charge

The smart glasses are the furthest along in development, with Apple having recently distributed prototypes to hardware engineers. Production could begin as early as December 2026, with a consumer launch targeted for 2027. The glasses will feature a dual-camera system: a high-resolution sensor for capturing photos and video, and a second camera providing environmental context similar to LiDAR technology found in current iPhones.

Notably, Apple is taking a different approach to Meta by focusing on premium materials including acrylic elements and designing its own frames rather than partnering with existing eyewear brands. The glasses will not include a display, instead relying entirely on voice-based interactions with Siri for navigation, translation, and object identification.

AI Pendant and Camera AirPods

The AI pendant, roughly the size of an AirTag, remains in early development and could still be cancelled. It would feature a lower-resolution camera that continuously monitors surroundings, functioning as the eyes and ears of a connected iPhone. Unlike the ill-fated Humane AI Pin, Apple's version would rely heavily on the iPhone for processing rather than operating standalone.

Camera-equipped AirPods are reportedly further along and could launch as early as 2026. Rather than capturing traditional photos, the cameras would provide environmental data to AI systems.

A Crowded Battlefield

Apple enters a market where Meta has established a significant lead. EssilorLuxottica reported selling over seven million smart glasses in 2025, more than tripling sales from the previous year. Meta and its partner are now discussing doubling production capacity to twenty million units.

All three Apple devices will depend on a revamped Siri chatbot codenamed Campos, planned for iOS 27 and powered by AI models co-developed with Google through a deal reportedly worth one billion dollars per year. Meanwhile, OpenAI is developing its own AI hardware with former Apple designer Jony Ive, though that device has been delayed to 2027.