Apple’s Trio of AI Wearables Could Redefine Smart Devices

Apple Inc. is rapidly advancing its work on a new generation of artificial-intelligence-enabled wearable devices, marking what could be one of the company’s most ambitious hardware shifts since the launch of the Apple Watch and Vision Pro. The initiative focuses on hardware that can “see, hear and understand the world” around users, expanding beyond traditional screens and tapping into AI in more intuitive, always-on form factors.

Trio of AI Wearables in Development

1. Smart Glasses (Codename: N50)
Apple’s most high-profile device in this strategy is a new pair of AI-powered smart glasses, internally called N50. According to reports:

The glasses are designed with high-resolution cameras, speakers, and microphones, but they may lack a full display in early versions.

They will integrate tightly with the iPhone and Apple’s AI systems, especially a revamped Siri, to interpret visual context and perform tasks like recognising landmarks, identifying objects or assisting in real-time rather than just displaying digital content.

Apple is targeting production to begin as early as December 2026, with a potential release in 2027.

The glasses are meant to rival products from Meta (Ray-Ban Smart Glasses) and Snap Specs, pushing Apple into the wearable AI hardware market more aggressively.

2. AI Pendant (AirTag-Sized Wearable)
Alongside glasses, Apple is reportedly developing a wearable AI pendant, a small, AirTag-like device that:

Includes built-in cameras and microphones.

Can be pinned to a shirt or worn as a necklace, functioning as a “visual context capture” assistant tied to the user’s iPhone.

Seems to draw inspiration from devices such as the now-defunct Humane AI Pin, albeit integrated into Apple’s ecosystem and reliant on iPhone connectivity.

Could launch sooner than the smart glasses, possibly as early as late 2026.

3. Next-Gen AirPods with AI & Cameras
The third device in this wearable suite involves upgraded AirPods:

These will feature low-resolution cameras and expanded AI capabilities beyond typical audio functions.

The camera data can feed contextual information to AI assistants like Siri, enabling features such as visual recognition, environment analysis, contextual prompts and smarter command responses.

This approach builds on Apple’s existing AI work, including live translation features introduced in recent AirPods versions.

What Powers These Devices: AI & Siri Integration

A major theme across these wearables is AI-driven contextual intelligence:

All three devices are expected to use Apple’s digital assistant Siri as their core interaction layer, with a focus on visual context instead of just voice commands.

Apple is actively revamping Siri, including integrating models like Google Gemini, to make it more capable and responsive.

This shift marks a strategic pivot from Siri being a voice tool to a multi-modal, always-present AI companion.

Market and Strategic Context

Apple’s move into wearable AI comes as the broader tech industry sprints toward context-aware AI hardware:

Competitors like Meta’s Ray-Ban Smart Glasses have already hit the market, while Snap’s “Specs” are expected later this year, illustrating strong consumer interest.

Apple’s Vision Pro mixed reality headset, while innovative, remains a niche product with limited sales so far.

Wearables without traditional displays, like AI pendants and camera AirPods, represent an ecosystem expansion strategy, potentially deepening iPhone user engagement.

Investor Reaction & Business Impact

According to market analysis:

News of these AI wearables boosted Apple’s stock price in recent trading, highlighting investor interest in Apple’s next growth frontier beyond iPhone upgrades.

Analysts see AI wearables as a long-term platform opportunity, similar in potential to the Apple Watch and AirPods.

Challenges and Questions Ahead

Despite the excitement, there are splashes of uncertainty:

Siri’s performance has lagged behind rival AI assistants, making the success of these devices heavily dependent on upcoming software improvements.

Privacy concerns around always-on cameras and data collection could spark regulatory and consumer resistance.

As with any new hardware category, execution risks and consumer adoption hurdles remain significant.

Expected Timeline (Tentative)

Note: Apple has not officially confirmed dates, and timelines may shift.

Bottom Line

Apple’s reported trio of AI wearables, a smart glasses system, a wearable AI pendant, and camera-enhanced AirPods, signal that Cupertino is moving beyond screen-centric devices toward context-aware, always-present computing. If realised, this could mark one of Apple’s most significant product expansions yet, reshaping how users interact with AI in daily life.