Apple may have the perfect platform to integrate artificial intelligence into its devices, but a major obstacle stands in its way—the delayed development of Siri’s new AI capabilities. Despite the growing interest in AI-powered wearables, Apple’s slow progress in this area could hinder its efforts to turn the Apple Watch into a truly AI-driven device.
Recent reports from Bloomberg suggest that Apple is exploring the possibility of adding a camera to the Apple Watch, which would provide visual context for AI interactions, similar to the functionality seen in Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses. The camera would allow users to point their watch at objects—like a pair of shoes—and immediately ask the device for more information, such as where to buy them. This AI-powered multimodal experience could make the Apple Watch an incredibly versatile tool for real-time, context-aware assistance.
However, there’s a significant issue Apple must overcome before its AI-powered watch can reach its full potential: the slow rollout of a revamped Siri, powered by Large Language Models (LLMs). Siri’s current limitations have been a significant roadblock in Apple’s AI ambitions, and despite promises of a major update at WWDC 2024, the new version of Siri is now expected to arrive no sooner than 2026, with some sources speculating it could be delayed even further.
The integration of a camera on the Apple Watch could be groundbreaking, but without an AI system capable of processing and responding to visual data in real time, the feature may not live up to its potential. As seen with previous AI wearable failures, such as the Humane AI Pin and Rabbit R1, technology alone isn’t enough. These devices attempted to offer similar AI capabilities but failed to resonate with users, largely due to clunky user interfaces and a lack of seamless AI integration. Apple, however, enters this space with a significant advantage: the Apple Watch is already the most popular smartwatch globally, with a loyal user base and access to invaluable health and fitness data that could power a truly personalized AI experience.
Yet, despite its popularity, the Apple Watch still faces challenges in fully embracing AI. Apple has successfully built a dominant presence in the wearables market, but to capitalize on this position, it needs to bring Siri up to speed with the demands of modern AI. Until the new Siri is ready, the Apple Watch will struggle to transform into the cutting-edge AI device Apple envisions.
Apple is aware of the pressure to launch its AI-driven features, having recently made leadership changes within its AI department, appointing Mike Rockwell, a key figure behind the Vision Pro development. However, even as the company works to refine its AI strategy, it faces external pressure, including a lawsuit related to misleading claims about Apple Intelligence on the iPhone 16.
While it remains uncertain whether Apple will overcome these hurdles in time, the company’s focus on AI wearables like the Apple Watch could be the right direction. The question is: can Apple make AI on the Apple Watch a reality before it’s too late? Only time will tell, but with a clear path forward, the future of AI on the Apple Watch may be closer than we think—if Siri can catch up.