Apple and Meta Are Rumored to Be Betting Big on AI-Powered Wearables.
The next generation of Meta Display smartglasses may come with a smartwatch. According to The Information , the Meta watch, codenamed Malibu 2, may feature fitness tracking and artificial intelligence, but its true purpose is to replace the Display’s neural module and act as a controller for the smartglasses. If these reports are accurate, Meta Display smartglasses and a smartwatch could go on sale in 2026.
There are no other details about the smartwatch yet, so we don’t know the price or what features it might have—but I’d be surprised if this rumor doesn’t ultimately prove true. Meta has already discussed the smartwatch idea , and it makes sense: if you’re going to use a wrist controller for glasses, why not add smartwatch features to it? Especially if the combination of glasses and watch could potentially give users a reason to ditch their Apple Watch.
Apple is also reportedly working on wearable devices with artificial intelligence.
Speaking of Apple, if rumors about the company are true , Apple is aiming to release its own line of AI-enabled wearables. According to a Bloomberg report, Apple could launch smart glasses in early 2027. The company is also reportedly developing an AI-enabled pendant that can be “attached to a shirt or worn as a necklace,” as well as AI-enhanced AirPods. The AirPods and pendant will feature cameras designed to “help AI work,” rather than photography. Apple’s smart glasses will reportedly lack a display, but will feature a more advanced camera and superior build quality compared to the Meta smart glasses. All Apple devices are reportedly designed to work with the iPhone.
Is the wearable tech war heating up?
Of course, none of this is confirmed. The closest Apple came to announcing these plans was CEO Tim Cook’s mention of “product categories” powered by AI at an all-hands meeting . However, all indications are that Meta and Apple are betting that consumers want a suite of connected, AI-powered wearables. Each company is taking its own approach to engaging users in their ecosystems. Apple appears to be betting on devices integrated with the iPhone and controlled by the camera-based technology used in the Apple Vision Pro headset. Meta apparently aims to replace phones with a display embedded in glasses and a biometric control circuit that relies on muscle movement, similar to the existing neural wristband.
It seems Meta and Apple are competing to go beyond a simple screen or smart glasses and become the next interface for your life—but do people want that? Are consumers tempted by the prospect of always-on AI and connected devices enough to buy them? That’s the big question, and the answer is far from clear. Both Apple and Meta have bet big on virtual reality, and while both companies’ VR devices are excellent, neither seems to have captured the market the way they’d hoped. So, as they say, stay tuned.