If you had cornered me a few months ago and asked if Apple would even consider getting into the AI device game – you know, like that mysterious project Jony Ive and Sam Altman are cooking up – I probably would've chuckled. But things in the tech world move at warp speed. Now, it's starting to feel like something's brewing over in Cupertino.

Tim Cook's recent comments during an internal meeting, reported by Bloomberg, have definitely piqued my interest. He said that Apple is uniquely positioned to let customers use AI in meaningful ways and that AI will enable new product categories. It might sound generic, but consider it in context with recent whispers and you realize something might be happening.

The AI Pin: Apple's Next Big Thing?

The juiciest rumor comes from The Information, which suggests Apple might be developing its own wearable AI pin, similar to what Humane is trying to do. Imagine a slim, circular disc with an aluminum and glass shell. This pin apparently has two cameras – a regular one and a wide-angle – designed to capture the wearer's surroundings with photos and videos. You can imagine some AI-powered computer vision features. If Cook is serious about "new categories," then AI gadgets definitely fit the bill.

But there's more! Apple also spent a reported $2 billion to acquire Q.ai, an Israeli company that specializes in "silent speech" recognition. This tech analyzes micro-movements in the face and whispers to understand what you're trying to say. It could be a game-changer for Siri and any device that uses voice control.

Q.ai's tech could have huge implications for other rumored Apple projects. Imagine AirPods with infrared cameras using Q.ai and computer vision to supercharge Siri or enable a more immersive ambient computing experience. Or think about smart glasses, which rely on voice control, benefiting from a seamless, almost invisible voice assistant.

Being able to silently dictate a text or command to your glasses? That would make smart glasses way more appealing in public settings.

It's all speculative, sure. But the pieces are there for Apple to make a serious push into AI gadgets. While Apple isn't known for rushing into things (remember how long it took them to fully embrace smartphones?), they are likely feeling the pressure, considering missteps like AI Siri, which hasn't quite lived up to its initial promise. I would say that, while the other companies struggle with the basic computing part, Apple could come up with something big.

So, while Apple might not be first to the party, something tells me they're more serious about AI than we initially thought. Whether they can actually make AI devices genuinely useful and appealing is another question. Competitors like Jony Ive and Sam Altman are struggling with the fundamentals, but they aren't Apple. So, whatever Apple cooks up will probably be less of a dumpster fire than what we've seen from Humane and Rabbit.