Sources: Apple is ramping up work on AI wearables with cameras and Siri, such as smart glasses, AirPods, and a pendant that can be worn as a necklace or pinned

Apple Inc. is accelerating development of three new wearable devices as part of a shift toward artificial intelligence-powered hardware …

Bloomberg 2026-02-18 Mark Gurman

Context & Ripple Effects

This marks a shift from Apple’s earlier exploration of smart glasses and camera-equipped AirPods without active development to a reported ramp-up across several AI wearable formats. The breadth of the effort suggests Apple is evaluating more than one way to put Siri and cameras closer to the user.

The reported pendant program had already pointed to a compact, camera-equipped device with audio hardware; that earlier wearable-pin effort now sits alongside glasses and AirPods rather than as an isolated experiment.

First-order effects

Apple’s hardware and AI teams must prioritize development resources across smart glasses, AirPods and a pendant, with camera and Siri integration becoming shared product requirements.
Siri becomes a more central interface for Apple’s prospective wearables, increasing the practical importance of its performance beyond the iPhone.

Second-order effects

Multiple form factors give Apple a way to test which wearable best supports AI interactions, rather than making smart glasses the sole bet; that can shape how its existing AirPods line is positioned.
Camera-led, always-nearby devices raise the product-design stakes around consent, privacy and regional feature availability, especially as Apple already faces an EU-region limitation on an AirPods feature.

Third-order effects

If development progresses into products, Apple’s AI strategy could shift toward ambient, device-mediated interactions rather than relying primarily on phone-screen apps.
The wider wearable market may increasingly compete on the combination of sensors, voice assistants and software integration—not hardware form factor alone—though Apple’s reported work does not establish a launch timetable.

The trend: This is one data point in the move toward ambient AI hardware, where assistants use nearby sensors and audio interfaces to make computing less screen-dependent.

Discussion

@brandonbutch Brandon Butch on x
Apple is accelerating development on 3 AI products: Smart Glasses, a Pendant, and AirPods with cameras. “Apple has made significant progress on its glasses [..] production as early as December, public release in 2027.” “The Pendant would essentially serve as an always-on camera…
@sawyermerritt Sawyer Merritt on x
NEWS: Apple has reportedly made significant progress in recent months on its smart glasses. The company is targeting the start of production as early as December, with public release in 2027. • High-resolution camera capable of capturing photos and video • No display. [image]
@aaronp613 Aaron on x
A pendant you say? [image]
@markgurman Mark Gurman on x
BREAKING: Apple is ramping up work a trio of AI wearables: Smart Glasses, AirPods with Cameras, and a Pendant that can be worn as a necklace or pinned to clothes. New details on all of the devices. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
@marcportermagee Marc Porter Magee on x
How Apple thinks you will use their glasses [image]
@vadimyuryev Vadim Yuryev on x
Pendant is DOA if AirPods with cameras exist. Same thing with smart glasses.
@andrea_fanelli Andrea Fanelli on x
When it comes to wearables, we don't want all the same things This explains why they're building a product family that covers different needs Like a federation of devices you can wear on their own or as a system
@wavesblog Simonetta Vezzoso on bluesky
“The device also could create context-aware reminders, such as prompting a user to grab an item when they're looking at the right shelf in a grocery store” I mean... [embedded post]
@zackwhittaker@mastodon.social Zack Whittaker on mastodon
Apple reportedly working on creepware, aka surveillance glasses and other AI-enabled always-on devices. — Not sure how Apple squares these products with its long-standing stance that, “Privacy is a fundamental human right.” — https://www.bloomberg.com/...
r/MVIS r on reddit
Apple is reportedly pivoting its wearable strategy to prioritize the development of AI-powered smart glasses
r/apple r on reddit
Apple Ramps Up Work on Glasses, Pendant, and Camera AirPods for AI Era
@heysaik Sai Kambampati on x
and a WHAT
@preshdkumar @preshdkumar on x
an ipod a phone an Internet communicator these are not three separate devices cc: apple [video]
@cryptopunk7213 @cryptopunk7213 on x
lol Apple's about to show everyone who the fucking boss is - 2.5 BILLION active apple devices are about to be offered AI smart glasses, airpods and a pendant - instantly go from “AI loser” to most dominant AI consumer device ecosystem - Gemini model deal means Siri becomes
@lyalindotcom Dmitry Lyalin on x
Take my money
@nbtjacklyn Jacklyn Dallas on x
The future of tech is looking extremely bright
@leftcurvemaxing @leftcurvemaxing on x
2026 marks the comeback of vr and the metaverse
@cinedatabase Matt Workman on x
I'm buying Apple Smart glasses pre order day one
@stevemoraco @stevemoraco on x
AirPods with cameras!?!?!?!
@grousark Nick Grous on x
Apple is a sleeping giant in AI. There hasn't been a true hardware disruption yet, which means Apple isn't as far behind as most people think. In past platform shifts, the winner wasn't the first app; it was the company that controlled the hardware and the ecosystem. Apple still
@benitoz Ben Pouladian on x
@markgurman I'll take all three. Where should I leave my credit card?
@tyler_did_it @tyler_did_it on x
AI wearables are going to drive the next wave and Apple is best positioned to win
@jason @jason on x
📝

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