Apple reportedly intends to launch artificial intelligence (AI)-enhanced smart glasses aimed at rivaling Meta’s Ray-Bans. The company plans to produce a substantial number of prototypes by the end of this year and is targeting a launch for the smart glasses by late 2026, Bloomberg reported on Thursday (May 22), citing anonymous sources. Apple did not immediately respond to PYMNTS’ request for comment. According to Bloomberg, these smart glasses are expected to include cameras, microphones, speakers, and the Siri voice assistant. They will support phone calls, music playback, live translations, and provide turn-by-turn navigation. Looking further ahead, Apple aims to introduce glasses equipped with augmented reality technology, the report stated. This smart glasses initiative is part of Apple’s larger push to create a “breakthrough AI product, ” according to the report. Additionally, Apple has been working on integrating cameras into Apple Watch smartwatches and AirPods earbuds to enhance data collection, the report noted. However, Apple recently discontinued the smartwatch project this week while continuing development on the earbuds initiative, as per the report. A new wave of next-generation smart glasses powered by AI has emerged, PYMNTS reported in March.

Companies like Meta, Amazon, Snap, Samsung, Baidu, Xiaomi, Google, and around a dozen smaller firms are banking on smart glasses as the next popular connected wearable. On Tuesday (May 20), Google announced expectations that smart glasses running its extended reality (XR) operating system, Android XR, paired with its AI model Gemini, will act as a convenient, ever-present AI assistant. Google made this announcement while revealing partnerships with eyewear brands Gentle Monster and Warby Parker to develop Android XR-equipped glasses designed to be stylish and comfortable for all-day wear. On Wednesday (May 21), OpenAI revealed it is acquiring Io, an AI device startup co-founded by Jony Ive, the former chief design officer at Apple who led the design of the iPhone, iPod, iPad, and Apple Watch. Io will become OpenAI’s devices division and plans to showcase “what they’ve been working on” in 2026.