All aboard the hype train for Apple's next potential innovation. The latest stop on the rumour mill is an AI-powered wearable pin, designed to interact with users and handle AI tasks, potentially replacing the need for constant phone use. If there was an award for the most rumours about a single company, Apple would undoubtedly hold the title unchallenged.
What the Rumours Say
The speculation, originally reported by The Information, points to a device featuring two cameras, three microphones, a speaker, and a button on one side. Concept designs suggest it could resemble a sleek, modern pin, with the rumoured size similar to Apple's AirTag. This has quickly stirred Apple enthusiasts and AI hype-train drivers into a frenzy, with concept art and predictions running rampant across tech communities.
Apple's AI Journey So Far
The rapid rise in AI usage has companies worldwide scrambling to stay ahead of the curve. Everywhere you look, new products promise to be the revolutionary idea that solves every problem and transforms communication. Apple is no exception. In their 2024 keynote, Apple spruiked how AI stood for Apple Intelligence, announcing plans to integrate AI into every corner of their ecosystem.
However, as we move into 2026, Apple has yet to deliver the fully AI-powered Siri that was promised. The closest achievement so far is Siri palming off complex tasks to ChatGPT for more complicated questions. When criticised about Apple's sluggish performance in the AI space, CEO Tim Cook defends the company by saying Apple is 'not first, but best.' This mantra echoes through Cupertino's halls and has historically rung true for the tech giant.
Can 'Not First, But Best' Still Work?
But can this mentality still succeed at today's breakneck tech pace? With Apple lagging behind other players in the AI space, is a wearable AI device the key to catapulting them back to the top? The question looms large as the industry watches closely.
Lessons from Past Failures
In April 2024, Humane began shipping their 'Humane AI pin,' a small device that attached to clothes and promised to fundamentally change how we interact with technology. By February 2025, Humane had stopped selling the device and shut down the servers powering existing units.
Similarly, the Rabbit R1 aimed to flip the script on our relationship with phones, utilising a large-action model to use apps on your behalf. It claimed that pressing a button and saying you're hungry would result in pizza showing up—an oversimplification, but the gist is clear. Both products, despite having experienced design teams and making grand promises, fell short of expectations and failed to deliver anything meaningful.
A Risky Path for Apple
With these failures still fresh in the rearview mirror, it seems audacious that Apple would consider venturing down the path of an AI pin. However, in fairness, many of Apple's past successes seemed crazy at first. It seemed crazy that the iPhone lacked a physical keyboard, that the iPod was a nearly $900 MP3 player, or that anyone would want a laptop thin enough to fit in an envelope.
The Big Question
Could an AI pin be the next crazy idea that Apple needs to revolutionise the market? Or is the hype train merely heading to another dead end, with Apple risking a repeat of past industry missteps? Only time will tell if Apple can leverage its 'not first, but best' philosophy to turn speculation into a groundbreaking reality.
