Apple reportedly has several different AI wearable products in the works, with a new AirPods Pro 3 model with IR cameras expected to be the first. Here’s why AirPods as Apple’s first AI wearable makes a lot of sense.
Apple has three AI products in development, with new AirPods rumored to launch this year
Even as we still await Apple’s revamped Siri powered by AI, the company is rumored to has several wearable products in development that depend on new AI capabilities.
Last week, Mark Gurman wrote about three AI products at Bloomberg:
- AirPods with cameras
- Apple Glasses
- Pendant with built-in camera
Based on reporting from Gurman as well as Ming-Chi Kuo and other sources, the timeline for these products is: AirPods this year, Glasses next year, and Pendant TBD.
Rumors indicate a new AirPods Pro 3 model will launch this year with only one key upgrade: built-in IR cameras.
These cameras are expected to power visual intelligence features, including some of the ‘AI companion’-type capabilities coming later to Apple Glasses.
The more I think about it, the more AirPods seem like the perfect AI wearable to launch first.
Why AirPods Pro might be the best AI wearable to launch first
AI wearables are a nascent market, with examples already of both success and failure. Meta’s AI glasses are a good example of the former, while the Humane AI pin was clearly the latter.
Even with Meta’s success though, AI glasses are still not a mainstream hit. They’re an early adopter product that might turn into something bigger.
Contrast that with AirPods, and you start to see why Apple might benefit from making AirPods Pro its first AI wearable.
AirPods are extremely popular. It’s hard to go out in public spaces without seeing any. That’s because users are very comfortable with the idea of wearing wireless earbuds in social situations.
There’s nothing unusual in modern society about wearing AirPods around. And Apple doesn’t need to sell anyone on AirPods with cameras being a great product.
Why? Because AirPods are already a compelling product category without AI features. The new model doesn’t need to justify its existence as a category the way that AI smart glasses do.
Instead, Apple can sell higher-end AirPods that still do all the typical AirPods things—while also adding value with the built-in cameras.
It’s a form factor everyone is used to. And after Apple gathers enough data on how people are using its new AirPods with AI, those findings should help inform and improve the development of Apple Glasses.
AirPods with cameras may not be as flashy as a brand new product category like Glasses. But they can help users start finding value in an all-day AI companion, thus starting to make the case for more AI wearables in the future.
Are you interested in buying AirPods with built-in IR cameras? Let us know in the comments.
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