Apple is developing an AI-powered wearable pin that could launch as early as 2027, entering a market where previous attempts have failed. The device, comparable in size to an AirTag with enhanced capabilities, marks Apple’s entry into AI wearables as OpenAI prepares to launch its own hardware device in late 2026.
OpenAI acquired former Apple design chief Jony Ive’s startup io Products in May 2025 for $6.5 billion and is developing its first consumer device with Ive’s integrated design team. This competition between Apple and OpenAI comes after Humane AI, founded by two Apple veterans, sold its assets to HP for $116 million in February 2025, less than one year after the Ai Pin shipped in April 2024. For context on Google’s latest AI developments and Microsoft’s AI infrastructure investments, explore our comprehensive coverage.
AI Hardware Race: Apple vs OpenAI
Two tech giants compete to define the next generation of wearable AI devices
Development Timeline
Device Specifications
AI Wearable Pin
AirTag-sized AI assistant with dual cameras and wireless charging
- Form Factor: Thin, flat, circular disc with aluminum-and-glass shell
- Size: Similar to AirTag, slightly thicker
- Cameras: Two front-facing (standard lens + wide-angle)
- Audio Input: Three microphones for ambient sound capture
- Audio Output: Built-in speaker
- Controls: One physical button on edge
- Charging: Magnetic inductive wireless charging strip (Apple Watch-style)
- Launch Window: As early as 2027
- Production Scale: 20 million units planned at launch
AI Hardware Device
Pocket-sized AI companion designed by Jony Ive’s team
- Design Lead: Jony Ive (former Apple Chief Design Officer)
- Company: io Products acquired by OpenAI (May 2025, $6.5B)
- Form Factor: Pocket-sized, screenless device
- Reported Type: Possible AI-powered earbuds (unconfirmed)
- Focus: Ambient intelligence, seamless AI interaction
- Design Philosophy: Simplicity, intuitive UX, elegant form
- Development: Prototype ready, confirmed by Chris Lehane
- Launch Window: Second half of 2026
- Strategy: Beyond smartphone AI interaction model
Key Developments Deep Dive
Apple’s AI Wearable Pin Development
Apple is developing an AI-powered wearable pin engineered to match the AirTag’s compact size while packing considerably more functionality. The device features a thin, flat, circular disc design with an aluminum-and-glass shell, built to be worn on clothing as a hands-free AI assistant.
The pin includes two front-facing cameras—one with a standard lens and another with wide-angle capability—designed to capture photos and videos of the user’s surroundings for visual AI assistance. Three microphones ensure clear audio input for voice commands and ambient sound analysis, while a built-in speaker provides voice responses and notifications. A physical button along one edge offers tactile control, and the device charges via a magnetic inductive wireless charging interface on its back, similar to the Apple Watch charging system.
Apple is accelerating development to compete with OpenAI’s hardware launch timeline. The project remains in early stages and could still face cancellation, but the company plans to manufacture approximately 20 million units if the device reaches market by 2027. Development speed depends on resolving battery life constraints and proving consumer demand for wearable AI assistants.
Siri Campos: Complete Chatbot Overhaul
Apple is rebuilding Siri from the ground up into a conversational AI chatbot experience codenamed Campos, powered by Google’s Gemini models. This represents the most extensive Siri transformation since its 2011 debut, converting it from a voice assistant into a ChatGPT-style conversational AI integrated across iPhone, Mac, and iPad.
Campos will launch with iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and corresponding macOS updates arriving in fall 2026, likely announced at WWDC in June 2026. The new interface replaces the existing card-style Siri UI with a chat-like conversational thread that maintains context across sessions, handles complex follow-up questions, and supports both voice and text input while keeping the familiar “Siri” wake word for voice activation.
Campos taps Google Gemini models under Apple’s custom foundation layer, powering advanced web search, image generation from text prompts, file analysis and summarization, coding assistance, and deeper integration with Photos, Mail, Messages, Music, Calendar, and productivity apps. Users can request specific images from their library, draft emails based on calendar events, adjust system settings via natural language commands, and execute multi-step tasks—all while Apple maintains its privacy-first approach with on-device processing where possible. For insights on related Adobe’s AI video editing advances, check our coverage.
OpenAI’s Hardware Strategy
OpenAI acquired Jony Ive’s AI hardware startup io Products in May 2025 for $6.5 billion in an all-stock transaction, integrating his 55-person team of engineers, designers, and researchers into OpenAI’s San Francisco operations. The acquisition marked OpenAI’s largest deal and its first major entry into consumer hardware manufacturing, combining OpenAI’s AI technology with Ive’s design expertise from his decades at Apple.
Chief Global Affairs Officer Chris Lehane confirmed at Axios House Davos 2026 that OpenAI will launch its first consumer device in the second half of 2026. While official details remain limited, Lehane described the product as designed for ambient intelligence and seamless human-AI interaction beyond traditional smartphones. Multiple reports suggest the device could be AI-powered earbuds, though OpenAI has not confirmed the form factor.
The device combines OpenAI’s advanced language models with Jony Ive’s emphasis on simplicity, intuitive user experiences, and minimal aesthetic design. Ive and his creative collective LoveFrom assume deep design and creative responsibilities across OpenAI following the acquisition. This partnership aims to create a new category of AI-powered hardware that makes artificial intelligence accessible through elegant, unobtrusive physical devices that integrate naturally into daily life.
Humane AI Pin: A Cautionary Case Study
Humane AI, founded by former Apple engineers Imran Chaudhri and Bethany Bongiorno, launched its Ai Pin in April 2024 with built-in microphones and cameras—a concept similar to Apple’s current development plans. The device received poor reviews for slow performance, inadequate battery life, and unclear use cases that failed to justify its $699 price tag and $24 monthly subscription requirement.
HP acquired Humane’s assets for $116 million in February 2025, less than one year after the Ai Pin shipped to customers. The deal included Humane’s AI platform Cosmos, intellectual property, and most employees, but excluded the Ai Pin hardware business, which HP shut down permanently. Existing Ai Pin devices lost server connectivity on February 28, 2025, rendering them non-functional.
Humane’s failure exposed critical challenges in standalone AI wearables: sluggish processing speeds from underpowered mobile chips, limited battery capacity requiring frequent charging, and laggy response times that frustrated users. Apple may address these limitations by offloading processing tasks to paired iPhones and leveraging ecosystem integration, while the revamped Siri Campos chatbot could provide more powerful AI features. However, consumer demand for this device category remains unproven, making execution critical for both Apple and OpenAI. For related hardware analysis, see our coverage on ASUS AMD motherboard challenges and Sony-TCL’s joint manufacturing venture.
By The Numbers
The AI wearable competition between Apple and OpenAI was discussed, including device specifications, development timelines, and market context. Apple’s AirTag-sized pin with dual cameras and wireless charging targets a 2027 release with 20 million units planned, while OpenAI’s Jony Ive-designed device aims for late 2026 availability following the May 2025 io Products acquisition.
Siri Campos was covered as Apple’s chatbot transformation powered by Google Gemini, launching with iOS 27 in fall 2026. The Humane Ai Pin case was examined, noting the device’s April 2024 launch and HP’s February 2025 acquisition for $116 million, less than one year after shipping. The technical specifications, production plans, and development status for both Apple and OpenAI hardware devices were outlined based on available information.
