Apple positions Visual Intelligence at the core of upcoming AI devices

Apple CEO Tim Cook is pointing to Visual Intelligence as the central technology behind a new generation of AI-driven wearable devices under development at Apple. The remarks echo past instances in which Cook offered early clues about major product categories before their public debut.

Cook has previously foreshadowed significant product directions while the company was working behind closed doors. In 2013, he predicted that the sensor market would “explode” at a time when Apple was attempting to build a smartwatch that functioned as a wrist-mounted medical lab.

Although the first Apple Watch launched without full medical capabilities, Apple gradually expanded its sensor suite and recently introduced hypertension detection and sleep apnoea alerts. A dedicated team within Apple’s silicon division continues to pursue non-invasive blood-sugar monitoring.

Cook also pointed publicly to the potential of augmented and virtual reality years before the arrival of the Vision Pro. Apple ultimately spent billions on the headset before unveiling it in 2023 and releasing it in 2024.

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Visual Intelligence becomes Apple’s next focus

Apple’s latest strategic signals centre on Visual Intelligence, a capability designed to interpret the environment and act based on contextual understanding. The company introduced the technology on the iPhone 16 Pro in 2024 as part of the Apple Intelligence suite, later expanding it to additional devices.

The feature currently enables users to take a photo or screenshot and ask questions about its content through OpenAI’s ChatGPT or run a Google reverse image search. Apple is developing its own visual models and plans to make this technology fundamental to its new AI-centric wearables.

New AI wearables in development

The forthcoming devices include more advanced AirPods, smart glasses and a pendant fitted with computer-vision cameras and sensors to be worn on the body. Apple had also explored smartwatches with cameras for similar purposes, though that project has since been paused.

Possible uses range from identifying ingredients on a plate of food to providing detailed step-by-step instructions based on what the device sees. Visual Intelligence could also refine navigation by pointing users to specific landmarks rather than distances or offer reminders triggered by physical objects.

Cook referenced the technology directly during Apple’s holiday-quarter earnings call, underscoring its rising importance.

“One of our most popular features is Visual Intelligence, which helps users learn and do more than ever with the content on their iPhone screen, making it faster to search, take action and answer questions across their apps,” he said.

Apple’s first product announcements of the year are expected during March, with updates touching on its wearable strategy. The latest edition of Power On also outlines colour options for the iPhone 18 Pro and progress on iOS 26.4, following reports that Tesla CarPlay support awaited broader adoption of iOS 26.