Not to be outdone by OpenAI, Apple is reportedly developing an AI wearable

Apple is reportedly working on its own AI-powered wearable device, according to a Wednesday report by The Information. The device is described as a pin users would attach to their clothing, featuring two cameras and three microphones.

If the project moves forward, it would be another signal that competition in AI-focused hardware is intensifying. The report follows comments made earlier this week by Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer, who told attendees at the World Economic Forum in Davos that OpenAI is likely to unveil its first AI hardware product in the second half of this year. Separate reporting has suggested that OpenAI’s device could take the form of a pair of earbuds.

According to The Information, Apple’s device is envisioned as a “thin, flat, circular disc with an aluminium-and-glass shell.” Engineers are reportedly aiming to make it roughly the same size as an AirTag, though slightly thicker. The wearable would include two cameras — one with a standard lens and one with a wide-angle lens — for capturing photos and video. It would also feature a physical button, a built-in speaker, and a charging strip on the back, similar to what is found on fitness trackers.

The report adds that Apple may be trying to accelerate development of the product in response to growing competition from OpenAI and other AI hardware efforts. The pin could debut as early as 2027, with an initial production run of up to 20 million units. 

Whether consumers would embrace such an AI wearable remains an open question. Two former Apple employees previously founded Humane, which launched its own AI pin equipped with microphones and a camera. Despite early interest, Humane’s product struggled after release. The startup ultimately shut down operations and sold its assets to HP less than two years after launching the device.

Apple’s reported work on an AI pin underscores both the growing interest in ambient, wearable AI and the risks of defining a new category of consumer hardware.