Smart Glasses, AirPods Camera and 1 more: Apple plans to launch these AI gadgets soon
Apple is reportedly accelerating development on three AI-powered wearables, smart glasses, a camera-equipped pendant, and upgraded AirPods with built-in cameras. The devices are expected to rely on an enhanced version of Siri and use cameras to add visual context to AI features.
2026 is said to be the year of Apple, in which the company is expected to bring some new innovations, including a serious foray into the AI wearables space. According to a latest report from Mark Gurman for Bloomberg, Apple is rapidly developing three new AI-powered wearable devices: smart glasses, a camera-equipped pendant, and upgraded AirPods with built-in cameras. These devices are also said to be powered by the new and improved Siri, which may gain smart capabilities similar to the AI-powered voice assistants from Gemini and ChatGPIT.
If reports about Apple’s smart wearables indeed prove to be accurate, it would mark one of Apple’s most aggressive efforts yet in AI-powered hardware beyond the iPhone. Let’s take a look at what to expect.
Smart glasses with Siri in the center
According to Gurman’s report, the most interesting product in development appears to be Apple’s smart glasses. Unlike the high-end Vision Pro headset that Apple introduced a few years ago, these smart glasses are said to be lightweight and designed for everyday use, similar to Meta’s Ray-Ban or Oakley smart glasses. It is said that the main idea behind Apple’s smart wearables is combining cameras with AI so that the device can “see” what you see and respond intelligently.
Apple’s assistant Siri is expected to sit at the center of this experience. By adding visual awareness through cameras, Apple could make Siri more relevant. For example, the glasses can recognize objects, provide information about your surroundings, or help with navigation, all while keeping the user completely hands-free.
AirPods with camera? Yes, this is reportedly happening
According to the report, Apple is apparently planning another surprise detail, and that is a new pair of AirPods equipped with cameras. Although this may seem unusual at first, the goal appears to be similar, giving the AI visual context.
These cameras are not necessarily meant for taking traditional photos like smartphones. Instead, they can help AI understand the environment around you. Think Siri gesture controls, spatial awareness, and better reactions.
Apple has long dominated the wireless earbuds market, and adding AI-enhanced capabilities could be a way to evolve AirPods beyond just audio. If executed well, this could really turn them into a more immersive wearable device rather than just a listening accessory.
A camera pendant may join the mix
The third AI-powered device reportedly in development is a small camera-equipped pendant. Details are still limited, but the concept appears to revolve around discreet, always-available AI assistance. The neck-worn device can reportedly capture visual input and feed it into Apple’s AI systems for real-time help.
Now, over the past few years, as companies have been pushing AI, Apple seems to be lagging a bit. Even now with Apple Intelligence, competitors like Meta and AI companies like OpenAI have openly discussed AI-powered wearable devices, while Apple has remained largely silent.
However, with these new developments, Apple is finally entering the race more aggressively, and bringing context-aware AI by embedding cameras in all devices and pairing them with Siri.
Please note that there is no official launch timeline yet, and Apple has not publicly confirmed any of these products. But if the report proves true, Apple’s next big AI leap could come sooner rather than later, possibly even this year, as the company celebrates 50 years.
