AI Glasses, Smart Jewelry, and the Race to Redefine How We See the World

An Era Surrounded by Cameras Is Approaching

OpenAI is quietly making significant moves that only a few insiders currently know about—OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman, former Apple chief designer Jony Ive, and Laurene Powell Jobs, Steve Jobs’ widow. Shortly after Google I/O 2025, two major announcements surfaced: Apple plans to launch smart glasses in 2026, scrapping its camera-equipped watch project; and OpenAI acquired io Products, co-founded by Jony Ive, aiming to develop AI-related hardware. With Apple, Google, and OpenAI each unveiling AI strategies in close succession, the technology landscape is growing increasingly dynamic.

Apple: Building a Steady AR + AI Ecosystem

Insider reports reveal Apple’s smart glasses will feature a camera, speaker, and microphone, enabling users to interact with Siri, analyze surroundings, make calls, control music, navigate maps, and perform real-time translation. The device will likely use Apple’s custom chips, akin to those in the Vision Pro, and resemble the Meta-Ray-Ban glasses but with enhanced design and craftsmanship.

Apple’s Vision Products Group is developing these glasses alongside a more affordable Vision Pro. Patent filings suggest a double-hinge design for the glasses’ arms, improving fit and comfort, while potentially supporting adjustable diopters—great news for users who wear prescription lenses. The battery is expected at the back of the glasses, with the front dedicated to display technologies, possibly using reflective projection, waveguide, or both.

Interestingly, Apple’s design includes a transmission interface on the glasses’ arms. This could allow wired connections to iPhones or Macs, enabling low-latency applications like gaming or high-quality video playback. Meanwhile, Apple has canceled its camera-equipped Apple Watch project to focus resources on smart glasses, though AirPods with cameras remain in development.

While Apple’s AR ambitions are clear, Bloomberg suggests the company still needs several years to deliver the AR experience it envisions. Market sentiment seems cautious, with Apple's stock down nearly 19% this year, reflecting skepticism about its AI progress. Expect announcements at the upcoming WWDC, likely outlining timelines rather than showcasing finished products.

Google: Integrating Gemini Across Its Product Line

Google, a late entrant in the AI race, has made notable strides since 2025. Its Gemini AI model has evolved from trailing ChatGPT to fully integrating into Google’s ecosystem. Google now offers a comprehensive AI service stack that outpaces many competitors, melding software and hardware effectively.

At Google I/O, Google introduced Project Aura, a hybrid ecosystem product developed with Chinese partner Xreal and based on the Android XR platform. Project Aura resembles Google Glass from a decade ago but aims to avoid its predecessor’s short lifespan by fully leveraging AI. Android XR is positioned to become the standard for extended reality (XR) devices, covering VR, AR, and MR applications.

Hands-on reports describe Project Aura glasses as an interaction medium, while the Gemini Live model operates on connected smartphones. This approach leaves room for upgrades and expands capability without overloading the glasses themselves. Google also embraces third-party partnerships, working with fashion brands like Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to push Android XR as a stylish product. This strategy echoes Meta’s successful Meta-Ray-Ban collaboration, which sold over a million units in 2024, underscoring Google’s promising path forward.

OpenAI: Exploring AI Hardware in New Forms

Shortly before Apple’s smart glasses news broke, OpenAI announced a $6.5 billion acquisition of io Products, the company co-founded by Jony Ive post-Apple. OpenAI plans to integrate io’s team while allowing Ive’s design firm LoveFrom to focus on creative work for OpenAI and io.

OpenAI, historically a software-centric company, is now investing heavily in hardware. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts the hardware will be “new form” AI devices—compact and delicate, akin to an iPod Shuffle. These devices will likely include a camera and microphone for environmental awareness but won’t have a built-in display. Instead, they will connect to phones or PCs for interface and processing power.

This new hardware could be worn as AI jewelry, such as pendants, similar in concept to the Pendant AI recorder from Limitless. This approach suggests OpenAI is experimenting with integrating AI more seamlessly into daily life through subtle, wearable tech rather than traditional form factors.

What Product Developers Should Note

• Apple is focusing on high-quality, self-contained smart glasses that integrate tightly with its ecosystem but may take time to realize full AR functionality.
• Google adopts a modular approach, offloading AI computation to smartphones, which allows quicker upgrades and broader manufacturer collaboration.
• OpenAI is pioneering minimalistic AI hardware that relies on connected devices, opening new possibilities for wearable AI beyond screens.

These developments highlight diverse strategies to bring AI into physical products, signaling a shift where AI is embedded into everyday wearables. Product teams should watch how hardware-software synergy evolves, especially regarding user interaction, power management, and ecosystem integration.

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