Editorial illustration for Apple eyes AI wearable pin as rivals, including OpenAI, gear up for H2 launch
Apple's AI Pin Signals New Wearable Tech Battleground
Apple eyes AI wearable pin as rivals, including OpenAI, gear up for H2 launch
The race for the next computing interface is heating up, and Apple is betting on a pin. A tiny, circular disc, aluminium, glass, roughly the size of an AirTag but thicker, is reportedly in the works, packing two cameras, a speaker, and a physical button. This is not just another accessory.
It’s a direct signal that Cupertino sees a future beyond the smartphone screen. And they’re not alone. OpenAI’s top global affairs officer just confirmed the company will likely announce its first AI hardware device in the second half of this year.
The timing is no coincidence. Apple is reportedly accelerating development, targeting a 2027 launch with ambitions for up to 20 million units. But there’s a quiet, stubborn question that Humane AI’s flop left hanging: do people actually want to wear an always-on assistant?
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 pin is a bet on a future that has yet to prove it wants to be worn. Apple, with its hardware mastery and ecosystem lock-in, could succeed where Humane stumbled, but a thinner disc and two cameras do not automatically create a market. OpenAI’s first hardware remains a cipher, and 2027 is a long way off in a space where momentum shifts quarterly.
The real question isn’t whether Apple can build this thing. It’s whether anyone will wear it.
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Common Questions Answered
What is the OpenAI Gumdrop device and how is it different from other AI hardware?
[artificialintelligenceee.com](https://artificialintelligenceee.com/openai-gumdrop-device-finally-turns-chatgpt-into-a-physical-tool/) reports that Gumdrop is a screenless, lightweight device designed to be worn around the neck or kept in a pocket. It's specifically created to capture ideas and context in moments when using a phone feels awkward, with a unique ability to capture handwritten notes and send them directly into ChatGPT.
Why is Jony Ive's involvement with the OpenAI Gumdrop device significant?
[engadget.com](https://www.engadget.com/ai/openais-first-device-with-jony-ive-reportedly-wont-be-a-phone-or-a-wearable-130024787.html) highlights that Ive's involvement is crucial, as OpenAI acquired his startup io Products for $6.5 billion in an all-stock deal. Both Ive and Sam Altman believe this device could become a core personal technology, with Altman suggesting it represents the 'biggest thing' they've ever done as a company.
What are the expected manufacturing and launch details for the OpenAI Gumdrop device?
[appleinsider.com](https://appleinsider.com/articles/25/05/22/openai-jony-ives-ai-necklace-rumored-to-have-ipod-shuffle-form-factor) reports that mass production is expected to start in 2027, with initial products potentially launching in 2026. The device will be manufactured outside of China, likely in Vietnam, to reduce geopolitical risks, and is designed to be roughly the size of an iPod Shuffle with no screen.
Further Reading
- Apple Reportedly Eyes 2027 AirTag-Sized AI Wearable Launch to Compete With OpenAI — TrendForce
- Apple is working on an AI-powered wearable pin: report — 9to5Mac
- Not to be outdone by OpenAI, Apple is reportedly developing an AI wearable — TechCrunch
- Exclusive: OpenAI aims to debut first device in 2026, exec tells Axios — Axios
