Apple is accelerating the development of three new wearable devices as part of a shift towards hardware powered by artificial intelligence, a category also being pursued by OpenAI and Meta Platforms.
The company is ramping up work on smart glasses, a pendant that can be pinned to a shirt or worn as a necklace, and AirPods with expanded AI capabilities, according to people with knowledge of the plans, who asked not to be identified because those plans have not yet been announced.
All three devices depend on a camera system and will be linked to Apple’s iPhone and built around the Siri digital assistant, which will rely on visual context to carry out actions, the insiders say.
A spokesperson for Apple declined to comment.
At a recent meeting with employees this month, Apple CEO Tim Cook hinted that the company would be pushing hard into AI devices. Photo: AFP
The AirPods and pendant are envisioned as simpler offerings, equipped with lower-resolution cameras designed to help the AI work, rather than for taking photos or videos. The glasses, meanwhile, will be more upscale and feature-rich.