Generative AI isn't the only thing Apple has missed in recent years. The computer manufacturer has also been watching the fast-moving trains in the smart glasses sector. In this area, Meta is clearly ahead with its Ray-Ban glasses. Of course, these aren't augmented reality glasses: they don't have a screen and don't display any virtual information in front of the user's eyes.
Chips to give Apple devices eyes
Despite everything, the Ray-Ban glasses offer seems to be appealing to consumers: they can take photos and videos, they can also answer questions, and recently, they can translate in real time and can also provide information about a building or surrounding areas. All thanks to Meta's AI.
Apple has stayed away from this market... but not for long, according to Mark Gurman. The Bloomberg snooper reports that the manufacturer intends to launch its own "non-AR" (screenless) glasses; they could be marketed by next year, or in 2027.
Little is known about the capabilities of this product, except that its cameras would be able to "scan" the environment to better respond to the user's requests. Apple will also have to seriously accelerate on the AI front. Currently, the Visual Intelligence function of the iPhone 15 Pro and 16, the one that comes closest to what these glasses want to accomplish, relies on ChatGPT and Google.
On the technical side, Apple is said to be developing a specific low-power chip inspired by the S chips in the Apple Watch. This new silicon system is said to be designed to control multiple cameras as efficiently as possible, while consuming as little power as possible.
These smart glasses aren't the only "wearable" project being designed by Cupertino. In fact, the company is reportedly working on real AR glasses this time around, which, however, require much more work: offering augmented reality with lightweight, socially acceptable devices isn't yet a reality today — even though Meta is working on it with the Orion project.
Still on the silicon front, Apple is also reportedly working on a similar chip for the Apple Watch (codenamed "Nevis") and for AirPods ("Glennie"). Here too, it would be a question of giving these devices the ability to read the environment, with the help of tiny cameras.
Unsurprisingly this time, Apple is also working on M6 (codenamed "Komodo") and M7 ("Borneo") chips for future Macs. The iPad Pro and MacBook Pro will be the first Apple computers to integrate an M5 chip, by the end of the year.
Source: Bloomberg
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