Recently, Apple's strategy in the field of AI hardware has gradually come to light, with its core focus on the deep integration of camera technology and "vision intelligence." The aim is to create entirely new interaction methods by analyzing the user's physical environment in real time. According to renowned tech journalist Mark Gurman, Apple is planning three vision intelligence-based AI wearable accessories to further expand the hardware ecosystem of Apple Intelligence. 
These three products include: a pair of smart glasses based on the design concept of Meta Ray-Ban sunglasses, a wearable AI pendant or pin, and a variant of AirPods with an integrated camera. Among them, the first product is expected to officially launch before the end of 2025. The core function of these devices lies in using the camera to capture objects, scenes, and text within the user's field of view, combined with AI algorithms to achieve real-time recognition and intelligent feedback. For example, users could use the device to identify the type and calorie content of food in front of them, obtain detailed navigation information, or even have the device automatically trigger preset reminders when seeing specific objects.
Apple CEO Tim Cook recently stated clearly in discussions with financial analysts: "Vision intelligence is one of the most popular features of Apple Intelligence." This statement further confirms Apple's emphasis on the visual AI interaction pathway. In fact, vision intelligence was initially only available on the iPhone 16 series, allowing users to identify a dog's breed by taking a photo of their pet. With the iOS 26 update, this feature has expanded to more iPhone models and now supports real-time camera feed analysis and screenshot recognition. However, the visual recognition currently offered by Apple Intelligence is still primarily basic. For more complex image understanding or advanced searches, users still need to rely on third-party platforms like ChatGPT or Google Image Search, though third-party apps can also apply to integrate this capability.
Against the backdrop of external criticism regarding Siri's improvements and the urgent need to reshape its AI strategy, Apple is accelerating the exploration of new growth points through hardware innovation. Vision intelligence AI accessories not only carry the mission of expanding the application scenarios for Apple Intelligence but also mark Apple's strategic transition from a "voice-first" approach to "multimodal interaction." In the future, with further integration of technologies like Google Gemini, the foundational capabilities of Apple Intelligence will be strengthened. This will drive the evolution of vision intelligence accessories towards greater precision and intelligence, offering users a truly seamless experience of environmental awareness and intelligent assistance.
