Apple’s Next Big Wearable Could Be an AirTag-Sized AI Pin

Apple could be the latest company to place its bets on a wearable AI pin.

The world’s biggest tech company is at work on an AI-enabled wearable device about the size of its AirTag location tracker, but a little thicker and with a lot more packed inside, according to a report in The Information.

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The device would reportedly include two cameras, three microphones, a speaker and a physical button. Presumably, it would pair with devices like iPhones to give access to the data it’s collecting, such as photos, videos and audio. It’s easy to imagine a device that uses whatever comes out of Apple’s partnership with Google’s Gemini AI to ask questions on the go or look up information from your phone.

A representative for Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

A wearable AI device is not a new concept — plenty are experimenting with the concept, including Memories.ai, note-taking experts Plaud and life-logging company Looki. But not all efforts in the space have been successful. 

A company called Humane tried and failed to start a trend with its $699 AI pin, which failed to catch on and was developed by former Apple designers Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno. The technology behind Humane’s pricey pin was eventually sold to HP. 

But Apple’s reputation for making wearables that are less expensive and quickly iterate new technology year after year could set it up for success in this rapidly developing space. Apple has also been rumored to be working on a ring and smart glasses.

It could also have competition. OpenAI is working on small-form AI hardware device that’s being developed by former Apple designer Jony Ive. 

(Disclosure: Ziff Davis, CNET’s parent company, in April filed a lawsuit against OpenAI, alleging it infringed Ziff Davis copyrights in training and operating its AI systems.)