Apple 'Planning AI Smart Glasses' for 2026
Source: silicon.co.uk
Apple's AI Smart Glasses
Apple is reportedly increasing its focus on AI-powered smart glasses, aiming for a 2026 release to avoid missing the AI trend, according to Bloomberg.
Project Details
The project, previously known as N50 and now N401, involves engineers working to meet the 2026 deadline. There is a possibility Apple could use overseas suppliers to produce prototype quantities at the end of this year. Plans for a dedicated chip for the smart glasses with mass production to follow next year have been reported.
Features
The smart glasses could feature cameras, microphones, and speakers for environmental analysis and voice input via Siri. Functionality may include taking phone calls, playing music, live translations, and turn-by-turn directions, similar to Meta’s glasses and devices running Android XR.
Apple is also planning AR glasses that superimpose imagery, similar to its Vision Pro headset, though those plans are further out.
Comparisons
Sources suggest Apple's glasses would be similar to Meta's but better made. Meta is expected to release a higher-end model of its Ray-Ban glasses this year with a display, and an AR model in 2027.
Other Projects
Apple discontinued an Apple Watch with a camera but continues work on AirPods with cameras. It is using tools from OpenAI and Google to offer chatbot services and visual analysis and faces competition from OpenAI, which recently acquired io.