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The Apple AI pendant was expected to work as an always-on camera and microphone for Siri AI.
AI image: ChatGPT/Cult of Mac

Apple’s AI pendant just hit a wall. The company reportedly postponed development of the rumored wearable, betting on Apple Watch and AirPods to carry its AI ambitions instead.

The pause hints at a shift in Apple’s AI hardware. Apple Watch already handles many of the pendant’s core jobs, and other AI-powered wearables are already on the way.

What the Apple AI pendant was built to do

The Apple AI pendant isn’t a brand-new rumor. Reports about the project surfaced months ago, when Apple was said to be exploring a small, screen-free wearable designed to work alongside the iPhone and Siri. The early reports described a device that could use cameras and microphones to understand its surroundings. 

A Bloomberg report on Tuesday described a device designed to be worn as a necklace or clipped onto clothing. Apple’s version supposedly had no display or projector. Instead, the pendant would feed what it sees and hears to Siri AI.

Reportedly, some Apple employees called it the “eyes and ears” of the phone. Engineers were also said to weigh whether they should add a speaker. That could let owners talk to the pendant directly, instead of reaching for AirPods.

Why the Apple Watch may be taking its place

Apple shipped Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 last week. Both lean into AI, adding features like Audio Intelligence. That alone could explain the timing for hitting pause on the AI pendant. With Apple’s latest watches doing similar work, the company might not feel as much urgency to ship the pendant.

Camera-equipped AirPods are also said to be on the way, and they could ship as soon as next year. Apple is also reportedly working on smart glasses, which would give Siri AI another way to see the world.

The same report mentioned another project: a screenless fitness tracker built to rival Whoop. Apple hasn’t said anything about this rumored device or confirmed how AI might factor into it.

Wearable AI hardware has had a rough run so far. The Humane Ai Pin flopped, and no company has yet cracked the format. For now, the Apple AI pendant stays on the shelf. If the Apple Watch and other wearables prove there’s demand, Apple could revive the pendant down the line.