Apple is accelerating its entry into the wearable AI market with a device described as an AirTag-sized AI pendant. According to the latest rumors, the company is developing a pin or pendant that could launch as soon as 2027. This project is part of a broader ecosystem update that includes watchOS 26.5 and early hints about watchOS 27 for the upcoming Apple Watch Series 12. In this article, we dive deep into the features of the future AI pendant and the latest watchOS innovations.
The AI Pendant: Design, Camera, and Artificial Intelligence
The wearable will have a circular shape similar to an AirTag, though slightly thicker due to internal components. It will feature an aluminum and glass shell with a physical button on one edge. A key element is the presence of at least one camera. Bloomberg reports a low-resolution sensor for environmental analysis, while The Information suggests two front-facing cameras for capturing photos and videos. In either case, the device will leverage Visual Intelligence, a feature already present on iPhone, to provide information about objects and surroundings.
The brain of the pendant will be Siri. Apple plans a major overhaul of Siri in iOS 27, making it comparable to Claude or ChatGPT. The pendant will allow users to interact with Siri without needing to pull out their iPhone. However, the device will not be standalone: an iPhone is required for most processing, using a chip similar to the H2 in AirPods. A microphone is confirmed, while a speaker for voice responses is still under consideration. Without a speaker, interactions will be routed to the iPhone, Apple Watch, or AirPods.
watchOS 26.5: Luminance Watchface and iOS 26.5 Updates
In parallel, Apple has seeded the second release candidate of iOS 26.5 and iPadOS 26.5, along with a new watch face for Apple Watch: the Pride Luminance face. This watchface is highly customizable: users can select 1 to 12 colors from a palette including all rainbow hues plus black, white, brown, and gray. The colors are distributed in a gradient available in radial or linear styles. The dial can be set to Rectangle for edge-to-edge color or Circle to leave space for four complications. Like many Apple watch faces, it is animated: when the wrist is down, colors shrink to slim lines on a black background; when raised, the full palette appears and colors shift slowly. A matching Pride Luminance wallpaper is also available for iPhone.
iOS 26.5 does not introduce new Siri capabilities, which are postponed to iOS 27, but includes Maps Suggested Places based on trends and recent searches, plus preparations for ads in Apple Maps. Apple is also testing end-to-end encryption for RCS messages between iPhone and Android, a feature that was included in the iOS 26.4 beta but later removed. The public release of iOS 26.5 is expected next week.
Apple Watch Series 12 and watchOS 27: What to Expect
Looking ahead, rumors indicate that Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 will be unveiled in September, with watchOS 27 previewed at WWDC 2026 on June 7. Among the most anticipated hardware features is Touch ID built into the side button, a long-rumored addition. Although credible sources like Mark Gurman have not confirmed it, leaked internal code from last year suggests Apple is testing this option. Additionally, after a one-year pause with the S10 chip, the Series 12 and Ultra 4 will get a new processor (likely S11 or S12) with performance improvements.
watchOS 27 will also bring a new variant of the Modular Ultra watchface, exclusive to the Ultra, and additional Apple Intelligence features, building on those already available in watchOS 26 (Workout Buddy, live translation, notification summaries). New satellite capabilities are also expected: after the success of Emergency SOS and Messages via satellite on Ultra 3, iOS 27 may extend Apple Maps via satellite and photo support in Messages. Note that Amazon recently acquired Globalstar, the satellite company powering Apple's connectivity, and has signed a multiyear agreement with Cupertino.
The entire Apple ecosystem is moving toward tighter integration between AI, wearables, and services. If confirmed, the AI pendant would represent a new screenless way to interact with artificial intelligence, while watchOS and iOS updates pave the way for an ever more connected future. For more on Apple's chip partnerships, read our article on Apple and Intel Renew Historic Ties. For general information on Siri, visit the Wikipedia page on Siri.
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