According to a report published Wednesday by The Information, Apple may be developing its own AI wearable. The device is described as a pin that users can wear on their clothing. It is said to come equipped with two cameras and three microphones.
Should the rumored device come to market, it would mark another sign that the AI hardware market is heating up. This news follows comments made Monday by OpenAI Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane, who told a Davos crowd that his company will likely announce its highly anticipated first AI hardware device in the second half of this year. Additional reporting suggests that device may be a pair of earbuds.
Apple’s device is described as a thin, flat, circular disc with an aluminum-and-glass shell. Engineers hope to make it the same size as an AirTag, only slightly thicker. The pin will also have two cameras, one with a standard lens and another with a wide-angle, for pictures and video. It is also reported to include a physical button, a speaker, and a Fitbit-like charging strip on its back.
Apple may even be in the process of trying to accelerate development of this product to compete with OpenAI’s. The report notes the pin could potentially be released in 2027 and involve 20 million units at launch.
But it remains to be seen if consumers want this kind of AI device. Two Apple alums previously founded Humane AI, a startup which also sold an AI pin. Humane’s pin included built-in microphones and a camera. However, it floundered upon release, and the company had to shut down operations and sell its assets to HP within two years of its product launch.