Apple may be developing its own AI wearable, according to a report published Wednesday by The Information. The device is a pin that users can attach to their clothing and is equipped with two cameras and three microphones, according to the report.
If the rumored devices hit the market, it would be another sign that the AI hardware market is heating up. The news follows comments made Monday by Chris Lehane, OpenAI’s chief international affairs officer, who told a Davos audience that the company will likely unveil its first long-awaited AI hardware device in the second half of this year. Additional reports suggest that the device could be earphones.
Apple’s device is described as a “thin, flat disk with an aluminum and glass shell,” which engineers hope will be the same size as the AirTag and “only slightly thicker.” According to the report, the Ping will have two cameras for photos and videos (one with a standard lens and one with a wide angle), as well as physical buttons, a speaker, and a Fitbit-like charging strip on the back.
Apple may even be looking to accelerate the development of this product to compete with OpenAI’s. The pin could be released in 2027, and 20 million units could be sold at launch, the report said. TechCrunch has reached out to Apple for more information.
But it remains to be seen whether consumers want this type of AI device. The two Apple alumni previously founded Humane AI, a startup that also sold AI pins. Humane’s pin also had a built-in microphone and camera. However, problems arose upon release and the company had to cease operations and sell its assets to HP within two years of the product’s launch.
