SAN FRANCISCO, Jan 21, 2026, 15:58 (PST)
- Apple reportedly has a wearable AI pin in the works, about the size of an AirTag
- The reported device is said to feature cameras, microphones, a speaker, and support wireless charging
- The timeline remains unclear; the project might be scrapped entirely, with no launch expected before 2027
Apple is reportedly developing a small AI-powered wearable pin, roughly the size of an AirTag — the company’s coin-sized tracker — according to MacRumors, which cited The Information on Wednesday. This disc-shaped gadget would have built-in cameras and microphones to detect the wearer’s surroundings. It’s expected to feature a speaker, a physical control button, and wireless charging, with a potential launch as soon as 2027. That said, the project remains in early stages and might never see the light of day. (MacRumors)
The report arrives as Apple works to shift Siri away from a simple command interface toward a conversational assistant, inspired by generative AI—software that creates text or images from prompts. Apple is teaming up with Google to deliver a more personalized Siri experience. Bloomberg revealed that Apple plans to launch an AI chatbot version of Siri for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac this September, according to The Verge.
Apple’s exploring a pin-style computer, marking a fresh hardware direction after years of tweaks to its main lineup. It also brings back an old debate around “always with you” devices: how much recording will users accept, and under what circumstances.
The pin is a slim, flat circular disc encased in an aluminium-and-glass shell. It features two front cameras—a standard lens alongside a wide-angle one—to capture photos and videos. Sound from the wearer’s surroundings is picked up by three microphones.
The device would include a built-in speaker for audio playback and feature a control button along one edge. Charging would be wireless, much like the Apple Watch, the report says.
Apple aims to keep the pin roughly the size of an AirTag, but a bit thicker. How it will attach remains undecided. The Information didn’t clarify if Apple plans to sell the pin separately or package it with upcoming smart glasses, but with its cameras, microphones, speaker, and button, it looks capable of functioning independently.
In late afternoon trading, Apple shares climbed roughly 0.4% to $247.65.
A body-worn device that listens and watches is bound to spark privacy concerns, face workplace restrictions, and make users uneasy—especially in places where phones already raise eyebrows. At CES earlier this month, Avi Greengart, an analyst at Techsponential, noted that consumer attitudes toward privacy “haven’t gone away entirely, but they are shifting.” (Malay Mail)
Rivals are zeroing in on a similar concept. OpenAI has teamed up with ex-Apple designer Jony Ive to develop a compact AI gadget, while Meta continues to roll out AI capabilities in its smart glasses, MacRumors reported.
Current reports suggest the project timeline extends all the way to 2027. Apple hasn’t unveiled the device yet, and the biggest question remains: will it actually hit stores? Plus, do users really want a camera clipped to their clothes?
