The next generation of technology devices may not have screens. You might not notice they are recording audio. You might not even realize they are tech products at all.
Qualcomm, which supplies chips to major Android phone manufacturers, unveiled a new chip on Monday designed for such innovative products. The company stated that tech firms are showing growing interest in discreet, body-worn devices such as pendants, brooches, and glasses.
Tech companies are racing to predict whether the AI boom can produce the next must-have device, similar to how the internet laid the foundation for smartphones. Since Qualcomm's chips power millions of devices from Samsung, Motorola, Meta, and others, its new initiatives can be seen as an indicator of trends in the consumer electronics industry.
However, tech companies must prove these new devices can perform better or offer more unique features than phones, while also addressing public privacy concerns about covert audio recording and environmental data collection.
Qualcomm's head of wearable and personal AI devices, Ziad Asghar, said the company realized the need for a new chip after multiple firms presented novel hardware concepts to them.
Asghar noted that the initial success of smart glasses also confirms this direction. According to Counterpoint data, global shipments of smart glasses surged 139% year-over-year in the second half of 2025.
"We have seen demand [for smart glasses] far exceed expectations for 2025, which gives us greater confidence," he said.
The new chip, named Snapdragon Wear Elite, is designed for new products like brooches and pendants, while also supporting smartwatches. Qualcomm stated the chip is built specifically to run AI models locally and interact with nearby devices, ensuring battery life is not quickly depleted even during continuous audio recording or frequent communication with devices like phones. Companies including Alphabet, Motorola, and Samsung will adopt this chip.
Nevertheless, tech giants face significant challenges in convincing consumers to embrace entirely new devices. The startup Humane, founded by former Apple executives, serves as a cautionary tale; after its AI pin met with lukewarm market reception, it sold part of its business to HP.
Asghar, however, believes wearables can be more efficient than phones for certain tasks, such as real-time translation during conversations.
Devices like smart glasses and earbuds can provide translations directly within the user's line of sight or ears, eliminating the need to look down at a phone. He also mentioned that the retail industry is showing interest in AI devices with cameras, which could track consumer gaze and attention.
Furthermore, devices worn on the body rather than carried in a pocket can use sensors like cameras and microphones to perceive environmental context, offering more situationally relevant information and responses.
"It enables capabilities you simply didn't have before this type of device existed," Asghar explained.
Meta, Alphabet, and Samsung are all heavily investing in AI smart glasses that can analyze and answer questions about the user's surroundings. Amazon stated that Bee, an audio-recording wristband it acquired last year, is crucial to the future of Alexa.
Apple is also developing smart glasses and pendant devices. The Information reported that OpenAI expects to launch its first hardware product—a smart speaker—next year. Startup products like the Friend AI pendant and Plaud brooch have also garnered attention.
Alphabet has not announced plans to expand beyond glasses, watches, phones, and earbuds. However, Björn Kilburn, Vice President and General Manager of Alphabet's smartwatch software, said the company is closely monitoring these new types of devices.
"Ultimately, the key question is: 'Is it a better product for the user? Can it do something existing devices cannot?' If such a product emerges, there's no reason for us not to pay attention," Kilburn remarked.
These devices also make it easier than ever to record audio or video without others' knowledge or consent. Most devices, such as Meta's smart glasses and Amazon's Bee wristband, include LED indicators to signal when recording is active. Nonetheless, there have been reports of individuals using smart glasses to secretly take photos and share them on social platforms.
Meta, an industry leader, referenced its LED indicator in a statement to CNN and urged users to employ its products "safely and respectfully."
Alphabet's next-generation smart glasses have not yet been released, but the company is clearly mindful of the widespread privacy concerns and subsequent controversy sparked by Google Glass in 2013.
Kilburn stated that Alphabet bears a "significant responsibility" to protect user privacy and takes this matter very seriously.
"This does mean we will move more slowly on certain things, because we need to think carefully and weigh all positive and potential negative use cases," he added.