Apple Enters the AI Wearable Race to Take on OpenAI

Apple is reportedly developing an AI-powered wearable device, signaling a potential entry into the growing market for hardware designed to support synchronized AI execution, according to multiple reports.

The device is expected to take the form of a pin worn on clothing, equipped with microphones and cameras, and would represent Apple’s most direct move yet into AI-first hardware. The development comes as competition intensifies among major technology companies seeking to define the next generation of personal computing beyond smartphones.

The reported plans follow comments made this week by OpenAI’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, Chris Lehane, who told an audience at the World Economic Forum in Davos that the company is likely to unveil its first AI hardware product in the second half of the year. Separate reports suggest OpenAI’s device could take the form of AI-enabled earbuds.

According to people familiar with Apple’s plans, engineers are working on a thin, circular device, slightly thicker than an AirTag, with an aluminum-and-glass exterior.

The wearable is expected to include a physical button, a speaker, and a charging mechanism similar to fitness trackers, along with two cameras designed for capturing images and video.

Reports suggest Apple could target a release timeline as early as 2027, with production volumes potentially reaching 20 million units at launch, underscoring the company’s ambition to scale quickly if the product moves forward.

The emergence of AI wearables, however, remains uncertain. Humane, a startup founded by former Apple employees, previously launched an AI pin featuring built-in microphones and a camera. Despite early attention, the company shut down operations within two years and later sold its assets to HP, raising questions about consumer demand for always-on AI devices.

Apple’s reported efforts highlight both the opportunity and risk facing companies entering the AI enhanced technology space, as major players test whether consumers are ready to adopt new device categories centered on artificial intelligence rather than traditional screens.