Apple Plans AI Wearable Pin as Competition Intensifies in AI Hardware: Report

Apple may be developing its own AI wearable, according to a report published by The Information. The device is described as a pin worn on clothing, equipped with two cameras and three microphones.

If the rumoured product reaches the market, it would be another clear sign that competition in the Physical AI space is accelerating. The report follows comments made in Davos by OpenAI’s chief global affairs officer, Chris Lehane, who said the company is likely to announce its first AI hardware device in the second half of this year.

According to The Information, Apple’s device is a “thin, flat, circular disc with an aluminium-and-glass shell”, which engineers hope to make roughly the size of an AirTag, albeit slightly thicker. The pin is expected to include two cameras—one with a standard lens and another with a wide-angle lens—enabling both photography and video capture, according to the report. It would also feature a physical button, an in-built speaker and a Fitbit-style charging strip on the back.

The report suggests Apple may be accelerating development to compete more directly with OpenAI’s upcoming hardware. The device could potentially launch in 2027, with Apple reportedly considering production volumes of up to 20 million units at release.

However, it remains unclear whether consumers actually want this category of AI device, considering previous attempts have struggled to gain traction. Two former Apple employees founded Humane AI, which launched an AI pin featuring microphones and a camera designed to act as an always-on assistant. The product failed to resonate with users, and the company shut down operations and sold its assets to HP within two years of launch.

Apple’s entry into the space would nevertheless be significant, given its track record of turning niche hardware into mainstream categories through tight integration with its software and services ecosystem.