Apple Develops Next-Generation Chips for Smart Glasses, New Macs, and AI Servers
According to Bloomberg, citing informed sources, Apple’s chip design team is working on next-generation chips for its first smart glasses, new Macs, and AI servers.
Sources revealed that Apple has made progress on the chip being developed for the smart glasses, indicating that the company is accelerating the development of the device to compete with the “Ray-Ban Meta glasses” developed by social media giant Meta.
Apple aims to begin mass production of the chip by the end of next year or in 2027, suggesting that if progress goes smoothly, its smart glasses could be launched in about two years. Like Apple’s other major chips, this one will be manufactured by TSMC.
Apple has spent several years attempting to develop smart glasses, hoping to create a lightweight device that can be worn all day. The initial concept was to use augmented reality (AR) to overlay media, notifications, and applications onto the real-world view, but AR technology is still several years away from being practical. Reports indicate that the non-AR smart glasses Apple is researching will be capable of scanning the surrounding environment with its lenses and assisting users through AI, though the company has yet to finalize the product’s design direction.
Meanwhile, Meta and other companies have already achieved success in the non-AR smart glasses space, which feature capabilities such as taking photos, playing audio, making calls, and allowing users to interact with voice assistants. Last September, Meta unveiled its first AR glasses, Orion, which resemble regular glasses and enable shared experiences with those around.
Informed sources also stated that Apple is developing other dedicated chips for new Macs and AI servers that will power the Apple Intelligence platform.