Apple makes progress toward its first pair of smart glasses: Report

Apple is reportedly working on its own microchips across multiple product categories, including smart glasses and artificial intelligence — a hint at what’s next for the massive Silicon Valley-based tech giant.

A May 8 report from Bloomberg, citing people familiar with the matter, said the company is working on new processors to power its future devices, including its first smart glasses to rival Meta’s Ray-Bans, more powerful Macs, and artificial intelligence servers.

The smart glasses — a first for Apple — would rely on a specialized chip codenamed N401. The processor is based on Apple Watch chips but is further optimized for power efficiency and designed to control multiple cameras planned for the glasses, the sources said. 

Apple’s smart glasses will initially be non-augmented reality versions that will include cameras, microphones and integrated AI, much like rival offerings from Meta. They would presumably have similar functions like snapping photos, recording video and offering translation options, the report added. 

The product may also integrate a visual intelligence feature for scanning the environment and describing objects, looking up information about products and providing directions.

Mass production targeted for late 2026 or 2027, suggesting a product launch within approximately two years, they added.  

The Bloomberg sources added that other semiconductors were also developing chips to power future Macs and AI servers that can power the firm’s “Apple Intelligence” platform.

Related: Apple softens crypto-related app rules, ‘hugely bullish’ for crypto industry

Meanwhile, MacRumors reported that chips codenamed “Komodo” will likely be M6 chips that will follow this year’s M5 chips, while chips codenamed “Borneo” will be Apple’s future M7 processors with another more advanced chip that will debut in the future codenamed “Sotra.”

Apple is also working on its first dedicated AI server chips in a project codenamed “Baltra” to power its Apple Intelligence platform, according to Bloomberg. 

The firm’s Baltra chips could have up to eight times the processing and graphics cores of the current M3 Ultra chips, the report added. Apple has targeted completion by 2027 to make its AI services faster and more competitive. 

In late April, it was reported that Chinese tech giant Huawei has developed a powerful AI chip that could rival high-end processors from US chip maker Nvidia.

Magazine: Bitcoin to $1M ‘by 2029,’ CIA tips its hat to Bitcoin: Hodler’s Digest