Apple is finalizing a major move in the field of AI applied to wearablesand the core of this entire strategy will be some Smart glasses with artificial intelligence Designed to work hand in hand with the iPhone. Far from repeating the Vision Pro formula, the company is preparing a much more discreet device, designed for everyday use.
According to multiple concurring reports, including those of the journalist Mark Gurman at BloombergThese glasses won't arrive alone. They'll be part of a small ecosystem of three portable devices with camera and AI: the glasses themselves, a smart pendant or pin And some revamped AirPods with visual sensors. The idea is that the phone remains the brain, while these accessories provide the eyes and ears.
Apple's AI-powered smart glasses: what they'll be like and what they'll be able to do
Apple's future smart glasses are envisioned as a product very different from the apple vision proInstead of opting for a mixed reality with screens on the lenses, the prototypes described by the leaks opt for a format closer to everyday glasses, but loaded with sensors, speakers and microphones.
Reports indicate that they will integrate two separate cameras: a main high-resolution camera for taking photos and videos and a second one dedicated to the computer vision and environmental analysisThis second sensor would allow Siri and Apple Intelligence “understand” what the user is seeing in real time.
This visual context will enable functions such as identify objects, read signs, or interpret documents without needing to focus the iPhone camera. There's also talk of adding events to the calendar by looking at a poster, or creating reminders when the user is in front of the right shelf in a supermarket—something that fits with the practical approach Apple usually takes with its products.
Another key point will be navigation. Thanks to AI and cameras, Siri could guide the user using real-world referencesInstead of simply saying “turn right in 100 meters,” signs could say things like “pass the red building and turn at the next corner.” This type of signage is especially useful in European cities with narrow streets or complex layouts, such as many historic city centers in Spain.
Regarding daily interaction, the glasses will allow make calls, listen to music, invoke Siri, and perform actions depending on the environmentThere will be no screen, so the interface will rely on audio, voice notifications and, presumably, some kind of discreet lights or indicators on the mount.
Design, materials and production: Apple wants to compete with Ray-Ban Meta
One of the aspects that Apple seems to be focusing on the most is the mount design and build qualityUnlike Meta, which has partnered with EssilorLuxottica for its Ray-Ban MetaIn Cupertino, they have chosen to develop the glasses in-house, controlling both the technological aspects and the style.
In the early stages of the project, they would have experimented with modified commercial mountsadding cameras and electronics to existing glasses from various brands. However, the current plan is to offer its own product, with various sizes and colorsdesigned to feel like a conventional pair of glasses and not like a bulky prototype.
The initial prototypes used a cable connected to an external battery and to the iPhoneThis approach was similar to that of the early Vision Pro developments. Over time, Apple would have moved towards versions where the electronics and battery are integrated directly into the frame, using lightweight materials and acrylic elements designed to give a comfortable feel. premium yet comfortable for extended use.
From a commercial standpoint, the glasses would be positioned as a high-end productHowever, it is emphasized that Apple will need a competitive price if it wants to seriously challenge Ray-Ban Meta, especially in cost-sensitive markets like Spain. Meanwhile, plans for a second model with integrated screen and more advanced augmented reality capabilities, although that device is still years away.
Internally, the glasses are known by the code name N50And leaks indicate that Apple wants start production around December with the goal of launching them to the public in 2027. If these deadlines are met, the company would arrive when the concept of smart glasses is already more established, a move consistent with its strategy of avoiding the first versions of a category and opting for more polished versions.
Siri, Apple Intelligence and Gemini: the AI that will give meaning to glasses
Beyond the hardware, the true driving force behind this project will be a Siri completely revamped, supported by Apple Intelligence and AI models developed in partnership with Google, specifically a customized version of GeminiThe company is preparing a new chatbot-type interface for iOS, planned for iOS 27, which will serve as the basis for these portable devices to make sense.
The goal is for the assistant to move beyond simple voice commands and be capable of Understanding the visual context, ambient audio, and location to provide much more useful answers and actions. The glasses, with their dual cameras, will be the most advanced piece of this puzzle, but the pendant and the camera AirPods will also contribute key information to the system.
In the case of glasses, the computer vision This will allow Siri to recognize dishes in a restaurant, identify landmarks during a walk through a European city, or read printed text and convert it into editable data. For users in Spain, for example, it would be possible to point the camera at a bar's menu or a concert poster and instantly get translations, details, or reminders.
Apple already has some experience with visual AI features on the iPhone, such as visual intelligencewhich analyzes images to recognize objects, pets, or text. The big difference is that, with the glasses, that capability would no longer be limited to photos stored on the phone and would begin to work real-time monitoring of the environment.
All this deployment comes at a time when Apple is trying closing the gap in the AI raceThe new version of Siri has suffered internal delays and development problems, but Tim Cook has insisted in various meetings with employees that the company is "extremely excited" about the new product categories powered by artificial intelligence, where glasses will be one of the flagship products.
An AI-powered pendant: the iPhone's "eyes and ears"
Alongside the glasses, Apple is preparing a smaller and more discreet device: a pendant or pin with camera and AIIt's about the size of an AirTag. This accessory could be worn around the neck or attached to clothing with a clip, and is designed to function as a camera and microphone always on connected to the iPhone.
Conceptually, it's reminiscent of the failed Humane AI Pin, although with a very different philosophyInstead of trying to replace the smartphone, Apple's idea is that this pin will be an accessory that offloads heavy processing to the iPhone. Internally, some employees describe it as the "eyes and ears" of the phone, responsible for capturing the context while the mobile phone remains in the pocket or bag.
The device will do without screens, projectors, or complex display systemsThis is precisely to avoid the battery, heat, and usability problems that have plagued similar projects. It will feature a low-resolution camera focused on providing information to AI models, not on taking high-quality photos, and a microphone for communicating with Siri.
One of the internal debates that remains open concerns the inclusion of a integrated speakerIf it is eventually incorporated, the user could have two-way conversations with Siri without needing to take out their iPhone or put on AirPods, which is useful in everyday situations such as carrying bags or walking down the street.
The pendant is still in an earlier stage of development than the glasses, and sources indicate that Its launch could be brought forwardIt could even arrive before the N50 if Apple decides to proceed. In any case, this is a project that could still undergo significant changes or be canceled, as has already happened with other hardware experiments by the company.
AirPods with camera and AI: sound, context, and gesture control
The third pillar of Apple's strategy involves some AirPods with low-resolution camerasThis model, which various analysts consider the closest to reaching the market, would go beyond the usual improvements in sound or noise cancellation and would incorporate visual sensors to better understand the user's environment.
Sources agree that these cameras are not intended for recording family memories or traditional videos. Their function would be feed data to AI and Siriallowing things like improving adaptive audio based on the scene, detecting head or hand gestures, or better understanding where the user is located.
One of the clearest applications would be the gesture controlIf headphones are able to "see" the user's position and certain movements, they could enable new forms of interaction without touching the phone, something interesting for athletes, drivers, or people who often have their hands full.
Functions related to the real-time translation and contextual assistanceFor example, asking for directions to the park where you're running or to that striking building you just passed while walking through an unfamiliar city. Here again, the European market is a good fit, combining high tourism, a variety of languages, and high urban density.
In the commercial arena, various reports suggest that these AirPods with a camera could arrive before glasses, even around 2026Gurman has been pointing out for some time that Apple has been working on this type of headphone for years, and the recent price reduction of some Pro models is interpreted as a possible move to make room in the range for a more advanced version.
Privacy, competition and the impact in Spain and Europe
The deployment of devices with always-on cameras inevitably opens the debate on privacyBoth the glasses and the pendant and the AirPods with camera must make it clear when they are capturing information, what is processed on the device, what travels to the cloud and how all that data flow is managed.
In Europe, and especially in countries like Spain, the regulatory framework established by the GDPR This will force Apple to meticulously address aspects such as consent, image storage, and data anonymization. The mere fact of having cameras in glasses or pins has already generated controversy in the past, so it will be crucial for the company to clearly explain its protection mechanisms.
Meanwhile, Apple is entering a market where Meta, Snap and other competitors have already made movesThe Ray-Ban Meta have shown that there is real interest in glasses that answer questions about what you see, and that success has spurred other tech giants to accelerate their own AI wearable projects.
Apple's strategy involves not to be the first, but to try to be the one who best refines the conceptIt's a pattern that has already been seen in other categories: wait for the public to understand the product, identify the mistakes of the pioneers, and launch a more refined version when there is a receptive user base.
For the average European user, the practical consequence could be a gradual shift towards a More ambient and less screen-centric computingInstead of constantly looking at your phone, many everyday tasks—checking an address, translating a sign, making an appointment, or asking for information about a dish—could be handled by talking to Siri while the glasses or headphones interpret the surroundings.
Everything points to the Apple's AI-powered smart glasses They will spearhead a new family of products designed to extend the reach of the iPhone beyond your pocket, leveraging cameras, sensors, and a much more capable Siri. If the timeline holds, we'll first see AirPods arrive with new AI features, followed later by a pendant and glasses that promise to change how we interact with technology on the street, on public transport, or in our city. It remains to be seen how price, privacy, and real-world utility will align, but the stage is set for a scenario where, starting in 2027, looking around and asking an assistant a question will be as commonplace as taking your phone out of your pocket is today.
